






































































aza 





SMITHSONIAN DKHOSIT 





























ACCIDENTS IN MINES, 

IN THE 

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE COALFIELD, 

ARISING FROM 

FALLS OF ROOF AND SIDES; 


THEIR CAUSES, AND THE MEANS OF DIMINISHING 
THEIR FREQUENCY. 


With Detailed Sections of the Workable Seams , and an Account of 
the System of Timbering in vogue at that Coalfield, 
and applicable elsewhere. 


BY 


ARTHUR ROBERT SAWYER, 


ASSOCIATE OF THE ROYAL SCHOOL 

AND 

ONE OF H.M. INSPECTORS OF 


OF MINES, 

MINES. 















PREFACE. 


It is well known in the mining profession that more men are 
killed by falls of roof and sides than from any other cause, but as 
they are mostly killed singly these fatal accidents do not excite 
anything like the sensation produced in the mind of the public by a 
fire-damp explosion, and most of them pass nearly unnoticed. 

My intention, besides describing the mode of timbering and 
of supporting the roof generally, has been to shew how some of 
these accidents are caused, and to point to different precautions 
which, in my opinion, would lead to their diminution in the mines 
of North Staffordshire. 

As this object necessitated several illustrations I have taken 
the opportunity of illustrating a correct section of every one of the 
numerous coal and ironstone seams of North Staffordshire, and in 
most cases a typical working place also, to shew the mode of timbering 
and of packing. 

Every Section and Plan has been measured by myself, and I 
have reproduced them exactly as I found them in the course of 
working. Though I do not in many cases comment on the methods 
adopted I do not necessarily thereby regard them as beyond criticism. 

’l'he figures of workmen which accompany a few of the illustra¬ 
tions, and which are actual working positions observed by me under¬ 
ground, not only help to shew the manner in which some of these 
accidents occur, but enable the reader to obtain at a glance a correct 
estimate of the scale adopted. 

A. k. SAWYER. 

Stoke-on-Trent, 

January , 1886. 









CONTENTS. 


Chapter I. 
„ II. 

„ III. 

„ IV. 


Nature of Roofs. 

Description of Faults, Slips, Joints and Cleat.. 
Methods of Working. 

Effects on the Roof by the extraction of the 
Minerals . 


V. Influence on the Roofs and Minerals of the 
order in which contiguous seams are worked 

VI. General Description of the methods of support¬ 
ing the Roof . 

VII. Classification of Timber Supports used either 
in single pieces or in combinations 

VIII. Holing, with a reference to Sprags, Cockers 
and Stretchers . 


IX. Posts, with especial regard to their position 
in Working Places . 


XI. Number of Posts required in Working Places.. 

XII. Chocks, Stone Cogs and Packs . 

XIII. Timbering in Levels and Dips. 

XIV. Drawing Timber . 

XV. Customs with regard to Setting and Drawing 

Timber. 

XVI. Gas Pressure in the Coal and in the Roof in 
relation to the class of Accidents in Question 


„ XVII. Atmospheric Influence on Roofs and Sides .. 

„ XVIII. Concluding Remarks on Accidents. 

„ XIX. Rules for Timbering. 

,, XX. Divisions of the North Staffordshire Coalfield, 

with Map . 

Names of Workable Seams in the Four Districts placed in 

Approximate Juxtaposition. 

Table of Incline Measures. 


Scale of Figures . . 

Index of Colours. 

Table shewing the Depths of the Workings from the Surface .. 


PAGE. 

7 

io 

20 

26 

29 

35 

37 

40 

47 

55 

58 

62 

65 

73 

79 

84 

86 

88 

94 

99 

io 5 

107 

108 
108 

* 


* At the end of the book. 





















ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Silverdale District . Figs, i —iot 

Longton ,, ,. 102—171 

Norton „ 172—252 

Kidsgrove ,, „ 253—278 

Cheadle, etc. „ „ 279—284 

Timbering in Travelling Roads. „ 285—296 


Miscellaneous 


297—3oi 









CHAPTER I. 


NATURE OF ROOFS. 


The strata overlying the coal and ironstone seams, 
and forming the roof are either siliceous or argillaceous. 

The siliceous roofs, which are made up of sand or 
quartzose grains, are— 

1. Sandstone (Rock), dense or open-grained, 

which occurs occasionally in beds of con¬ 
siderable thickness, notably over the 7 ft. 
Banbury Coal. 

2. Rockbinds, which present a more or less 

irregular laminated texture, and break 
down in scales. 

3. Conglomerate. Though its occurence is rare, 

it is occasionally met with in the 7 ft. 
Banbury roof in part. (Pdg. 165). 

These measures invariably present a wavy and 
uneven surface. 




8 


NATURE OF ROOFS. 


The argillaceous roofs, which consist of silica com¬ 
bined with a large proportion of alumina more or less 
condensed by pressure, are— 

1. The clays (fireclay, clod, clunch). They pre¬ 
sent different degrees of hardness, being at times very 
hard when first exposed, but they crumble or “ weather” 
to a more or less earthy state on exposure. 1 hey 
contain slips in irregular directions, from which large, 
rude and heavy lumps break down. Their surfaces 
usually have a wavy and uneven appearance, and 
present no trace of lamination. (Fig. io). 

2. The shales. These are more solid and con¬ 
densed by pressure than the clays. They present 
various degrees of hardness ; they vary in colour from 
light bluish grey to black, and break in various sized 
and shaped pieces. The following are the varieties 
most frequently met with :— 

(1) Soft grey clayshale, which has a soapy feel, 
and breaks very short. It is at times crumbly and 
loose, owing to its being permeated with small, smooth 
surfaces. (Figs. 139, 220). 

(2) Harder varieties; bluish grey and darker 
coloured, usually called “ Metals.” They show more 
or less regular lamination, breaking in smaller or larger 
flakes. The dark varieties are called Bass. The 
latter generally contain one or more sets of parallel 
joints, and at times numerous small highly-polished 
surfaces in irregular directions. (Figs. 48, 189). 

(3) Cannel, which is black, hard, strong, more or 
Less bituminous , sometimes curly (Fig. 139), contains 


NATURE OF ROOFS. 


9 




one or more very well defined sets of joints, but no 
trace of lamination; it is usually close to or attached 
to the coal. 

Shale roofs invariably present a fiat surface, which 
is at times very polished when first exposed. The 
blackness of shales and clays is due to an admixture 
of carbonaceous matter; the former being- at times 
highly bituminous. 

Where the seam is thick, part of it—the tops—is 
often left to be got down in part in the wastes. It 
then forms the roof at the face, and usually in the 
roadways. (Fig. 186). Where seams have been tilted 
over, as remarked further on, the floor forms the roof, 
which then consists of more or less hardened clay. 

The following table shews the average weight of 
one cubic yard of the rock-substances forming the 
roof:— 


Rock-Substances. 


Weight in the 
Natural Bed. 



[ In 


In 


In 


In 



1 Tons. 

Tons.jCwts. 

1 lbs.' 

Tons. 

Tons.]Cwts. 

| lbs.' 

Coal. 

’94 


!9 


’57 


11 

56 

Clay and Clay Shale.. 

1-87 

1 

i 7 

55 

I’I2 

I 

2 

56 

Shale and Rockbinds. 

1*98 

I 

19 

82 

i -05 

1 

I 

O 

Sandstone. 

1’81 

I 

16 

18 


Variable 

Ironstone. 


Variable* 



do. 



Approximate Weight 
in the Broken State. 


* From 30 to 50 cwts. 





















CHAPTER II. 


DESCRIPTION OF FAULTS, SLIPS, 
JOINTS AND CLEAT. 


All loosening of the cohesion of the roof and of the 
seam in particular planes plays an important part in 
the question of timbering, and, when occurring at 
regular intervals, in laying out the workings. This 
want of cohesion is produced by faults and slips or 
dislocations, and by joints, in which case it is complete, 
and in coal specially by the cleat, when a certain 
amount of cohesion is retained. 

Faults pass through all the strata and displace the 
seam and the roof, by throwing them either up or 
down, to however small an extent. They occur at all 
angles with the plane of stratification. When large 
they generally occur as a fissure more or less wide, 
filled with soft fragments. 




DESCRIPTION OF FAULTS, &c. 


11 


Slips,*' or things, or slipthings, or partings occur 
both in the roof and in the coal. They are not 
accompanied by displacement ; the fractured parts still 
remain in contact, and a fissure seldom intervenes 
between them. They generally form an angle of from 
35 0 to 70° with the plane of stratification, and, where 
they are very frequent, lie in parallel directions in 
all but clod roofs. When occurring in the coal at 
moderately regular intervals they are made use of by 
the collier who works by them, or from slip to slip. 
If they lean towards the collier they are called back 
slips, and if away from him face slips. The latter 
enable the coal to be got easier and safer than the 
former, which are consequently often called “ Devil’s 
toes.” (Figs. 71, 74). These rents, like faults, often 
run through both seam and part of the roof. At other 
times those in the roof are independent of those in the 
coal, and vice versa. When more than one set of these 
slips occurs in the coal they have the tendency of 
breaking it up to a considerable extent. 

Joints are fractures which have resulted from 
contraction during solidification. Their presence is 
specially characteristic of the ironstone seams and of 
most shale roofs. Ironstone seams present a very 
jointed structure. The joints, which generally cross 
each other in one or two more or less well defined 
directions, are often slightly open, and contain car¬ 
bonate of lime. The thicker the seams the further 
the joints are apart, and the more defined and open. 


* When occurring in the coal they are called “ backs ” in the North of England. 
Slips, like faults, were probably formed after the solidification of the coal. 



12 DESCRIPTION OF FAULTS, &c. 

The joints are usually more defined and regular in one 
direction ; these are called main joints. They run at 
intervals of from 18"—6' in the Black Band Ironstones, 
and of from 3"—8" in the Lean Clay Band Ironstones, 
but in the latter parallelism between the joints is some¬ 
times not well defined. 

The Black Band Ironstones always contain cross 
joints, which run at closer intervals than the main 
joints. They are not always so well defined and 
parallel as the latter. The Lean Clay Band Ironstones 
do not always contain cross joints. 

Joints usually form an angle of 8o°—90° with the 
plane of stratification. When passing from one band 
to another in the Black Band Ironstones they some¬ 
times set off, or ride over, or hang over a few inches. 
The thicker the seam the more arborescent or sinuous 
is generally the course of the joints, both longtitudinally 
and vertically. In the Lean Clay Band Ironstone 
joints present a very straight course. 

Main and cross joints sometimes cut each other out 
entirely, and sometimes throw each other out a few 
inches, but generally do not influence each others 
course. 

In the thicker seams some of the joints, and 
especially the cross joints, do not run through all the 
bands; some bands containing more than others. These 
are looked upon as chance joints. 

Where the seam has been worked off in pillars, and 
these have stood some considerable time close to the 
gob, the joints are opened considerably by pressure, 


DESCRIPTION OF FAULTS, &c. 13 

and the roof “ weights ” down along them, giving them 
the appearance of small faults in the roof. This also 
occurs where the face of the drift runs parallel to the 
direction of the joints, where these run into the roof. 
It is very necessary to keep the face either above or 
below the joints, so as to cross them, as otherwise it is 
much more difficult to keep up the roof. (Fig. i). 
Secondary joints of small extent, parallel to the prin¬ 
cipal joints, and branching off from them, become 
perceptible in old pillars. (Fig. io). They are called 
“ Pincracks,” and occur specially at the top part of the 
seam. Old pillars are consequently much easier to 
work off than new ones, so far as getting the stone off 
is concerned. 

The ironstone generally called “ Stone ” cleaves 
only in the plane of stratification. The seam, when 
thick, contains one or more partings, into which wedges 
and crowbars are inserted, and lumps broken down. 
These lumps, when large, are broken up only by 
inserting a wedge parallel to the plane of stratification. 

Joints seldom pass from the stone into the roof. 
Where the roof consists of a band of lean ironstone 
(grits) it contains joints in the same way as the stone 
itself. 

Perfect parallelism prevails, as a rule, between the 
sets of joints in seams lying above or below one 
another. It is also somewhat regular over large areas 
when the direction of the dip is the same. A change 
of dip in the seam alters the bearing of joints, and the 
neighbourhood of faults also disturbs the parallelism to 


14 


DESCRIPTION OF FAULTS, &c. 


a certain extent. Joints in the stone afford the greatest 
assistance to miners in their work. Joints in the roof, 
or in the shale which intervenes between the bands of 
lean clay ironstone, often run in a different direction to 
those in the stone. Joints in the roof also often run 
in a different direction to the cleat planes which occur 
in the coal, and have sometimes to be considered in 
laying out the workings. (Fig. 281). 

Cleat* planes, which are characteristic of most coal 
seams, are parallel divisional planes, along which the 
coal readily divides or cleaves, and these occur as a 
rule very near to one another, and so far differ from 
joints. Some of these planes are sometimes coated 
with carbonate of lime (Fig. 227), and occasionally with 
pyrites. (Fig. 146). When the face of work lies parallel 
to these planes the collier is said to be working “ face¬ 
way,” or “ on the face.” When it lies at right angles 
to these planes he is said to be working “end-way,” 
or “ on the ends and if at an angle with it “half on 
end,” or “half on,” or “half end and half face.” 

>fc it appears to the writer that the term “cleat” is preferable to that of 
“cleavage” to designate the divisional planes which occur in most coal 
seams, as the word “ cleavage ” is so differently used. Cleavage planes in a 
geological sense are the result of mechanical changes, brought about by the 
action of external forces subsequent to the accumulation and consolidation of 
the rock mass. In a mineralogical sense they are planes of minimum 
coherence, always parallel to some face of a crystal. The divisional planes 
which occur in coal, the writer is inclined to think, are like joints, the result 
of contraction during solidification, an internal change subsequent to the 
accumulation of the coal. Most coal seams have probably taken much 
longer to solidify than many of their superincumbent strata, and were conse¬ 
quently exposed to a certain amount of vertical pressure during their solidifi¬ 
cation, which may have assisted in the formation of the cleat planes. This 
may account for the immense number of these divisional planes as compared 
with the smaller number of joints which occur in other strata. Harder coals, 
like the Hard Mine, probably solidified quicker, and, not being exposed to 
the pressure of the superincumbent strata during their solidification, shew 
fewer divisional planes. 




DESCRIPTION OF FAULTS, &c. 


15 


These planes are well defined in most seams, and 
the coal is then called long-grained ; less so in other 
seams, the coal being called short-grained ; and not 
clear in a few, when the coal is said to be close-grained, 
generally stubborn, strong, or hard. Where the cleat 
planes are not well-defined the coal has usually an 
equal tendency to break in a transverse direction. 

In compact and hard coals and cannel coals the 
cleat planes run often from ]/ 2 inch to 3 inches apart, 
and in one seam, the Hard Mine, in the Longton 
District, these planes are from 6"—18" apart, and are 
intersected by another set of planes, equally distant 
as the former from each other. They are traceable 
in a 3" bass stratum above. The coal breaks off these 
planes in hard blocks, in which there is no tendency to 
subdivide in a direction parallel to these planes. (Figs. 

161 and 162). This seems to point to a similarity 
between the origin of joints and cleat planes. 

The presence or absence of a good cleat greatly 
influences the working arrangements. A good cleat 
always runs nearly at right angles to the plane of 
stratification. 

There is also a tendency in some coals to break in 
a direction parallel to the plane of stratification. This 
is due to what are called “ floors,’’ or partings, which 
the seam contains. 

The following is the general direction of the cleat 
in the North Staffordshire Coalfield. It does not 
appear to be affected by a change of dip. 


16 DESCRIPTION OF FAULTS, &c. 

Silver dale District .-—Where the cleat is distinct, 
which is not often the case in this division, 
it runs from i8°—38° N.W.* Where slips 
abound, as they do in this district, they run 
in a N.W. direction, and the cleat runs 
N.E., and is indistinct.! 

Longton District :— 

N.W. From due N.S.—9 0 N.W. 

W. io°—17 0 N.W. 

S. 13° N. 

E. 14 0 —22 0 N.W. 

S.E. As much as 45 0 N.W. 

Norton District :— 

S. Due N.S. 

E. In places a few degrees N.E. 

W. About io° N.W. 

N. From 34—58° N.W. 

Kidsgrove District: —Distinct in places, and then 
N.W., but seldom clearly defined. 

The presence of faults is always ascertainable, but 
slips in the roof are sometimes invisible when first 
exposed. Numbers of accidents occur from not pro¬ 
perly observing the roof, and from a wrong estimation 
of the danger which dislocations present. Accidents 
from invisible slips may not be wholly preventible, but 
those from faults or slips which can be traced are 
inexcusable. 


The bearings referred to here and in the figures are the magnetic ones, 
t This applies generally to all the districts. 



DESCRIPTION OF FAULTS, &c. 


17 


On faults or slips becoming exposed in the roof, 
posts should at once be set on the upthrow side in case 
of a fault, and to the corresponding side in the case of 
a slip. This should never be lost sight of. Many 
accidents have occurred even after a post has been set, 
because of its being set on the wrong side, under the 
downthrow side, which does not support the upthrow 
side at all. Fig. represents a fatal accident which 
occurred from this neglect. Although the slip was 
known to be present, a post was set at the edge of 
it, so that only a small part of the lid was under 
the upthrow side, instead of the post being well 
under it. This was, of course, useless, and a piece of 
the roof fell off the slip, and killed the collier. A very 
peculiar form of invisible slip (leaning slip), which tails 
out near the coal into the plane of stratification, is 
often met with in the 7 feet Banbury Rock roof. (Figs. 
84 and 87). In conjunction with faults or slips in the 
opposite direction, and even sometimes without them, 
these slips are exceedingly dangerous. An accident, 
which proved fatal to two men was indirectly due to 
this combination. Fig. 87 represents a section of the 
place where this occurred. The fall took place along 
a wide face, and covered an area of 500 square feet. 
It weighed about ten tons. The writer counted twelve 
posts under the fall, and there were probably more ; 
several were only 5" thick, and none more than 7". To 
that and to the assumption that the posts were mostly 
underset and not let in at the foot the writer attributed 
their total collapse. 

Overlap faults are sometimes met with in this 


18 


DESCRIPTION OF FAULTS, &c. 

seam. Fig. 85? which shews one, represents the place 
where the shot a blew out, and thereby caused one of 
the most extensive explosions which have occurred in 
North Staffordshire. 

What are known as “ Goths” often occur in some 
of the thicker seams. They are sudden burstings from 
off the face of portions of coal, either from a slip or 
cleat plane, owing to the tension caused by unequal 
pressure brought to bear upon it by the roof and floor. 
They are always accompanied by a loud report. Men 
have been frequently injured from this cause. 

The writer has noticed the same phenomenon in 
the 5 ft. seam, Silverdale District. A sudden shaking 
of the roof, like a small earthquake, and called “ bumps,” 
is felt over a large area, accompanied by a loud report, 
which loosens the cohesion of the roof. 

The universal practice of ascertaining whether the 
roof or side is safe is to tap it with some heavy tool. 
This is done both by officials and men. The hollower 
(heavy) the sound, the more unsafe the roof or side 
is. By placing one hand against it, whilst striking 
with the other, slight vibrations may also be felt. This, 
no doubt, is a very good practice, but is on no account 
to be relied upon implicitly. It can be relied upon for 
coal faces and shale roofs for pieces of moderate dimen¬ 
sions, but is unreliable with rock roofs and large pieces. 
The writer has very frequently heard witnesses at 
inquests state that the roof had been previously sounded, 
either by the person on whom the piece had fallen, or by 
someone else, and had been considered quite safe. If 


DESCRIPTION OF FAULTS, Sec. 


19 


the roof were carefully examined as well, for the pur¬ 
pose of detecting either natural dislocations, such as 
faults and slips, or those brought about by working, 
such as breaks and cracks; and if colliery officials 
would acquaint themselves with the bearing, the fre¬ 
quency of occurrence, and the inclination of slips, and 
regulate the timbering in accordance with them, many 
accidents would be avoided. 

The accident represented in Fig. 234 was due to a 
disregard of the existence and bearing of a set of 
parallel slips which abound in the roof. A shot was 
fired, and did not take effect. The collier then 
knocked at the overhanging mass of roof, and declared 
it safe. He then, without first setting a post under 
the mass, started to pick off the loose part of the coal, 
when it fell upon him, having, no doubt, been shaken 
by the shot. A proper knowledge of the frequency of 
occurrence of the slips would have made it clear that 
the overhanging mass of roof was certain to contain 
dangerous slips, even if they were not traceable. 



CHAPTER III. 


METHODS OF WORKING. 


The seams worked in the North Staffordshire 
Coalfield at the present time vary in inclination from 
o° to 86°. Some seams, more especially the Bullhurst, 
8 ft. Banbury and 7 ft. Banbury, in the Silverdale and 
Kidsgrove districts, have been known not only to 
reach the vertical in places, but to surpass it, so as to 
bring the floor uppermost. The seams now being 
worked have a thickness of from 20 inches to 14 feet. 
They consist of coal, marl and ironstone. The latter 
occur in beds and in bands. The Black Band Iron¬ 
stones are always accompanied by a substratum of 
coal The several seams vary in thickness in different 
parts of the coalfield ; this is especially marked in the 
ironstone seams, which vary considerably, even over 
very small areas. 

The methods of working under such various con¬ 
ditions necessarily differ, and almost every method is 
represented. 




METHODS OF WORKING. 


21 


It is not the writer’s intention to enter into this 
subject to any extent, but it will be necessary to con¬ 
sider it in so far as the question of timbering is 
influenced by it. 

i. The Lancashire, or pillar and stall method, with 
its several modifications, is very prevalent in steep 
mines. It is sometimes called the “ heading and 
drifting ” method, but the word “ drift ” is applied to 
wide work generally. 

It consists in driving main levels or headings, two 
to four yards wide, from which dips are set up at right 
angles to them, generally about 160 yards apart. 
From the top ends of these dips headings, seven to 
twelve yards apart, are again driven out the required 
distances on either side. The pillars so formed are 
worked back obliquely, the top places slightly lead, 
and the. gob is thus left behind. These headings are 
continued one below the other down to the main 
levels. The area opened out by the dips furthest in 
should be always completed first. 

In the majority of seams the coal is most easily 
worked in one direction, owing to the prevalence of a 
cleat or slips. As the coal has to be drifted back to 
the dips from two opposite directions, one of these 
will be the least favourable for getting the coal. To 
obviate this detriment, drifting is, with few exceptions, 
done in the same sense as on the other side of the 
dips, but from a fast end, or from a thurling, for a 
distance of about ten yards or more. (Figs. 72, 74, 79 
88, 90, 96). When that distance is worked out a new 


22 


METHODS OF WORKING. 


drift is started, ten or more yards nearer the dips. 
This is called a “ back-way ” drift, the opposite or 
ordinary drift being called “ face-way ” drift. (Figs. 
7i, 75)- 

The coal is not holed to any extent in drifting in 
the thicker seams worked by this method. It is 
generally wedged down, or rated down with punches 
or jobbers in fiery mines, and blown down to slips in 
a few non-fiery ones. When the seam is thick, part of 
it, the tops, is often dropped in the gob on the with¬ 
drawal of the posts. (Figs. 276 and 277). 

The Lancashire method develops into ordinary 
board and pillar working in seams of moderate inclina¬ 
tion. Seams of steep or “ stair ” inclination, which 
are called “rearers” when this inclination becomes 
considerable, are all worked by this method. 

Shooting the gob from the top drifts forms an 
essential feature in rearer workings. It makes the 
work not only possible, by ensuring a floor for the 
men to stand upon when at work, but also compara¬ 
tively safe, by partially filling up the gob cavities, 
thereby supporting the roof behind the men. The gob 
either shoots down of itself, or is brought down by a 
shot at the high side of the drift. 

Where possible, and absolutely necessary, posts are 
set to the roof (big. 61), but in several seams the roof 
is good, and a secure footing for posts is impossible on 
a moving gob ; hence the entire absence of posts in 
the drifts (Figs. 62, 63), except at the bottom corners 
and when the drift is first started. In such cases great 


METHODS OF WORKING. 


23 


care is taken to pull off all loose coals to the solid in 
slicing up the shoulder. If any slips are met with the 
men draw back and take off another piece. 

Little danger is anticipated from falls of coal and 
roof, which very rarely cause accidents with such pre¬ 
cautions ; but the gob has to be carefully watched, and 
the men have to be constantly on the alert. In some 
of these seams the men have occasionally to resort to 
precipitate flight, owing to a sudden total or partial 
shooting of the gob. This is one of the reasons why 
too many posts are considered objectionable, as they 
would be impediments to a hasty flight. It is easily 
conceivable that rearer working necessitates the em¬ 
ployment of a special class of strong and active men. 
Dips of from 70°—90° are found easiest to work, as 
the gob shoots down regularly and fills up most of the 
space. The most awkward dips are from 45 0 —65°, as 
the shooting of the gob is partial, and not so regular. 

A sudden shooting of the gob debris occurred in a 
drift in the 7 ft. Banbury Seam—Silverdale district— 
at an inclination of 45 0 . There were 3—4 rows of 
posts, several of which were swept down to the bottom 
of the drift. Two colliers who were at work at the 
time, were carried down by the debris, which was 
mostly small, and very nearly buried by it. They were 
both rescued from their perilous position without hav¬ 
ing sustained any serious injuries. It is supposed that 
a large fall of roof occurred in the gob above and 
forced the loose debris down. 

The dips in rearer workings are usually set up on 


24 


METHODS OF WORKING. 


what is called “three-quarters,” i.e., at such an angle 
as best suits the usual self-acting planes ; it being, of 
course, impossible to jig the wagons on the full dip of 
the seams. When the dips are set up on the full 
dip of the seam, as is frequently the case, they are 
fitted up with a cage and counterbalance. Two, 
and even three, seams are worked together very 
frequently by modifications of the Lancashire method. 
(Figs. 26, 63). 

2. The Longwall* method prevails in the flatter 
mines, with varying lengths of face and depths of 
holing. The depth of holing has, up to recently, not 
* been great, much reliance having been placed in 
powder, but since the greater restriction on blasting 
there is a tendency to improve in that direction, and it 
is found that proper deep holing not only enables 
powder to be greatly dispensed with, but that much 
more round coal is produced thereby. 

Modified longwall, with from 20—80 yards face, 
and a jig or self-acting incline in the middle, is in 
vogue in some of the thick and in most of the thinner 
seams of moderate inclination. (Figs. 102, 110). The 
greatest inclination of a seam worked by longwall is 
35° (Fig. 232). In thick seams the top coal is occa¬ 
sionally left over the packs and cut down in the wastes. 
(Fig. 106). 

What is known as “ breasting ” is much adopted in 
some seams. It consists in driving the levels 12 yards 

♦ A description of the longwall method of working in its application to some of 
the North Staffordshire Mines will be found in a paper read before the North 
Staffordshire Institute, by Mr. H. Wright. 



METHODS OF WORKING. 


25 


or more wide, and securing two roads by packing. 
(Figs. 229 and 105'*). The roof is found to stand 
better than it would in “strait” work. 

3. The Yorkshire “ bank* and pillar” method, with 
several modifications, also prevails. The bank differs 
from longwall in that small coal or stone pillars are left 
in the wastes to support the roof, there being generally 
no packing material in the seam, and broken roof not 
being used for that purpose. The sub-divisions into 
which the face is thrown by the formation of these 
little supports are called walls. (Figs. 248, 160, 7). 
The large pillars on either side the “ bank,” which 
support a pair of dips, are worked back on reaching 
the boundary. 


sk Sometimes called “ b^nk.’ 




CHAPTER IV. 


EFFECTS ON THE ROOF BY THE 
EXTRACTION OF THE MINERALS. 


On being exposed by the extraction of the minerals 
and the consequent removal of its natural support, the 
roof has the tendency to break down sooner or later. 
This tendency is deferred in the working places by the 
substitution of artificial supports, but comes in opera¬ 
tion again whenever these supports are partially or 
wholly withdrawn. The longer the subsidence is 
delayed the greater, as a rule, is the quantity of roof 
detached and the area over which it falls or subsides. 
These subsidences are called “ weights,” and the roof 
is said to be “ weighting.” Where the supports which 
are left in the gob cavity are substantial weighting is 
gradual, and gives ample warning. Where they are 
insufficient the weighting is more suddenly developed, 
and the artificial supports are ineffectual on the occur¬ 
rence of heavy weighting, which often breaks all the 
timber before it, right up to the working face (Fig 




EFFECTS ON THE ROOF, &c. 


27 


203), and in some cases this occurs even in spite of 
great attention to timbering. Where the roof is hard, 
and of great thickness and the floor is soft, the latter 
often closes the gob cavity before subsidence has had 
time to take effect. This frequently occurs with the 
7 feet Banbury rock roof, also with hard but bending 
cannels and shales. In the latter case the roof meets 
the floor half way. 

A soft or tender roof breaks as soon as the tem¬ 
porary supports are removed near the face, and forms 
wastes between the permanent supports left in the gob. 
(Figs. 220, 186). 

The tender strata forming the roof are often topped 
by a harder stratum, which subsides or weights after a 
larger area of it has been exposed. 

Two weights are usual in some seams, the first 
preceding the second at smaller intervals. 

A bad roof is generally understood to mean one 
which requires to be systematically well supported, 
while a good one is supposed to require less systematic 
support. A roof may be bad in itself. There may 
be very inadequate cohesion in its particles. It is then 
called tender or nesh. Under this definition would 
come some of the clay and loose shale roofs. What 
may generally be a good strong roof in itself may be 
full of slips and faults, and form a treacherous roof 
over a certain area. 

The subsidence of the roof is greatly influenced by 
the method of working, as for instance in the Rowhurst 


EFFECTS ON THE ROOF, &c. 


Seam. (Fig. 206). It is found that where the coal is 
breasted the roof does not break so readily as where 
the coal is opened out by ordinary “strait” work. The 
pressure in strait work is concentrated along one line, 
but in wide work it is spread over a large surface, and 
each individual point feels it in a reduced amount. 
On the other hand the quality of the roof also at times 
influences the mode of working. 

A roof containing joints, as that over the Woodhead 
Seam (Fig. 281), will be good or bad according as to 
whether the face is kept more at right angles to the 
joints, or parallel with them. 

It is fallacious to suppose that what are called bad 
roofs need be productive of more accidents than good 
roofs. Roofs containing numerous dislocations, lying 
much in the same direction, necessitate a specially 
systematic kind of timbering, which will ensure com¬ 
parative safety ; while a good roof, in which disloca¬ 
tions occur rarely, but unexpectedly, may be fraught 
with danger from the want of a rigid system of timber¬ 
ing, irrespective of whether in individual places posts 
are absolutely required or not. A good example of 
this latter is the 7 feet Banbury rock, a very good 
roof, which gives ample warning before coming down 
in the gob, but is most treacherous when subject to 
slips, pieces falling out without any warning, and 
many accidents having occurred in consequence. 


CHAPTER V. 


INFLUENCE ON THE ROOFS AND 
MINERALS OF THE ORDER IN 
WHICH CONTIGUOUS SEAMS 
ARE WORKED. 


The order in which contiguous seams are worked 
may affect not only their roofs, but also the hardness 
of the coal. 

It is well known that the pressure exerted on the 
face of the coal by the gas which it contains greatly 
assists its extraction. The escape of gas from the 
coal through the breaks in the intervening strata, 
which are caused by the extraction of a contiguous 
seam, either above or below it, and the disturbance 
thereby produced in the equilibrium of pressure in the 
strata, makes the coal tougher and harder to get. This 
disturbance follows the extraction of the coal closely, 
being perceivable in the roads of a contiguous seam as 
soon as the drift face passes over them. 




30 


INFLUENCE ON THE ROOFS, &c. 


Disturbing elements between two contiguous seams 
act nearly at right angles to the inclination of the seams 
and not perpendicularly. 

In so far as the hardness of the coal is affected,, it 
is entirely,a commercial question, and therefore outside 
the scope of the present subject. Not so the effect on 
the roofs ; for if a roof is injured it presents greater 
insecurity, which, if not provided against, may cause 
accidents. But as the increased insecurity which is 
produced in some cases, can be met by increased care 
in timbering, the consideration of the effect on the 
roofs is usually subordinated to that of the effect on 
the coal. Where the effect is to harden the coal, the 
cost of holing and cutting is increased, and, in the case 
of soft coals, the yield of round coals is augmented. 

If the increased selling price is greater than the 
increased cost of getting the coal, w r hich is the case 
with more or less soft coal, the hardening effect is 
profitable; coals which are already hard are less profit¬ 
able to work when still further hardened. 

The consideration of profit in working contiguous 
seams is often subordinated to trade demands. 

In considering this subject the following data have 
to be taken into account :— 

1. Distance between the seams. 

2. Their thicknesses. 

3. The extent to which the gobs are packed. 

4. Nature of roof and floor. 


INFLUENCE ON THE ROOFS, &c. 


31 


5. Nature of seams ; whether coal or ironstone. 

6. Inclination of the seams. 

7. Depth from surface. 

8. Rate of working, or distance between the 

drift faces. 

The following table contains some instances of the 
order in which contiguous seams have been worked, 
and the effect produced both on the roofs and on the 
coal or ironstone. It shows that no definite rule can 
be laid down for the order of working contiguous 


seams. 



















































































* 















































































































Seams 

Distances apart 
in yards 

Total average 

thicknesses 

Extent of 

packing 

Nature of floor 

Nature of roof 

Coal or Ironstone 

Inclination 

Depth from 

surface in yards 

Figures 


f 

Observations 

Remarks 

1 

Red Shagg .. 

Red Mine 

25 

: 5 ’ 6 " 

5' 0" 

1 

I 

Soft 

Soft 

< Both 

20“ 

160 


On working R. S. over 
worked out, the floor of R, 
tained having been drained 
of the lifting action of the 
production was reduced hy 

,n area of 200 yds. x 250 yds.; about two years after R. M. had been 
S., which usually lifts much, ceased to do so, the water which it con- 
The roads, which usually required much timbering, in consequence 
floor, needed no timber. The stone was so loosened that the cost of 
learly half. 


2 

Blackba.nd .. 

Red Shagg .. 

Red Mine 

12 

22 

4 ' 10" 

6' 0" 

1 

e 

j Hard 

do. 

do. 

4 “ 

1 

150 

8 

On working B. two year! 
(cutting it was the same as i 
the roof nor the stone were: 

On B. drift face passing 
much timbering. 

The lower seam being J 
hardened over the gob area 

after R. S. had been worked out the coal had set exceedingly hard 
ulting at a tree root). The cost of production was increased. Neither 
iffected. 

>ver roads of R. S. the latter were greatly pulled in, and required 

Mked ever so little in advance, the coal of the upper seam is thereby 
if the lower seam. 

It is considered best to work these three 
seams simultaneously, and to keep the drift face 
of the upper seam 30-40 yards in advance. 

1 he stone is not affected in whichever order the 
seams are worked. 

3 

Blackband ... 

Red Shagg ... 

Red Mine 

12 

22 

_ / _// 

3 O 

s' 6" 

6' 6" 

! 

1 9 

20 

9 

10 

3 

4 

do. 

do. 

do. 

5 ° 

150 

2 

6 

14 

Where R. S. was thic 
sided along a distance of 21 
consequently closely packed 
of B. The stone and roof0 
of timber, which was as 3: 

R. M. was worked 30 yi 
were broken. The cost of 

i and gob consequently not closely packed, a gob road in B. sub- 
yds. The roads are not affected where R. S. is thinner, and gob 
R. S., where thick, and less packed, was worked 20 yds. in advance 
B. were broken. The stone was easier to get, but the increased cost 
, was much greater than the reduced cost of getting the stone, 
s. in advance of R. S. The roof and stone of latter had set and 
reduction was doubled. 

It is considered best to work these seams in 
descending order , the drift face of the upper 
seam being not less than 10 yards in advance 
of the drift face of the lower seam. 

4 

Gubbin Iron¬ 
stone 

Great Row ... 

II 

' 7 ' 9 " 

9' 0" 

all 

s' 

1 do. 

Soft 

Hard 

Heavy 

Iron¬ 

stone 

Coal 

8° 

8° 

272 

184 

186 

Gubbin was worked sevi 
turbecl. The seam was “pi 
continuity of the seam was 
in places. The stone wasg 

ral years after G. R. The seam and roof were both more or less dis- 
Jedthe floor had dropped (swagged) as much as 4" in places. The 
aterrupted ; it was “set on’’ in places, and caused holing to be stiff 
nerally better to get. 

It is considered best to work G. R. first and 
the Gubbin as long afterwards as possible. 

5 

* 6 

; Great Row ... 
Cannel Row... 

*5 

9' 0" 
8 3 " 

2_ 

If 

do. 

Hard 

Heavy 

Hard 

do. 

do. 

8° 

8° 

287 

186 
189 

G. R. was worked eig 
(chumpy), and was more ex 

t months after Cannel Row. G. R. coal was found very tough 
ensive to get. The roof was not affected. 

It is considered best to work G. R. first and 

G. R. six months afterwards. 

1-- 

Yard . 

Ragman . 

4' 2" 
3' 10" 

I 

5 

1 

2 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

1 5 ° 
15 ° 

500 

223 

226 

Working Y. first caused 
also caused Y. coal to becoi: 

R. coal to become exceedingly hard. Working R. too far in advance 
e hard. 

It is found best to work R. jo— 13 yards in 
advance of Y. 

7 

Burnwood 

Twist . 

6 

4' 6" 

j 7 

1 

« 

I 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

17 ° 

17 ° 

250 

212 

216 

Workng B. first caused I 
left. It also caused the T. 
more readily there was mori 

le roof of T. to become much broken, necessitating much coal to be 
coal to become much harder. In consequence of the roof falling 
dirt than the gob could hold. The cost per ton was increased by 5d. 

It is found best to work T. first. 

S 

— 

Tor Two Row 

Bottom Two 
R ow 

— 

6—12 

2'10' 

4' 0" 

1 

3 

1 

3 

Strong 

do. 

Strong 

do. 

do. 

do. 

30 ° 

30 ° 

260 

270 

On working T. T. K. si 
had set very hard over gob 
expensive to work. On vvt 
becomes exceedingly hard, 1 
increased. 

me years after B. T. R. had been gotten it was found that the coal 
rea of B. T. R., and that the roof had become worse. It was more 
king 1 . I. R. completely out before working B. T. R. the latter 
iore slack is made. Timbering and the cost of working generally is 

It is found best to work the seams simul- " 
taneously, keeping the drift face of B. T. R. 20 
yards in advance. A slight depression of the 
floor called “snatch,” or “swag,” is caused in 

T. T. R., which makes the holing easier than 
when ' 1 '. T. R. is worked in advance. More 
round coal is produced and the roof is less 
damaged. 

9 

Bowling Alley 

Holly Lane ... 

Hard Mine ... 

24 

25 1 

4' 6 '' 

6' 9'' 

5 ' 6" 

1 

3 

1 

3 

1 

3 

do. 

Moderately 

Strong 

do. 

3 °° 

400 

153 

155 

159 

On w orking the upper s 
the drift face of the upper s 
considerably, necessitating 1 
be worked out completely 1 

am first the coal of the lower seam became exceedingly hard. As 
am passes over the jigs and levels of the lower seam, it pulls them in 
inch timbering. I or this reason the lower seam should, if possible, 
sore the upper seam is begun. 

It is considered best to work these seams in 
ascending order, and, if possible, in conveniently 
small districts, so that the lower seam may be 
completely got before the upper seam is begun. 
Where this cannot be arranged, and the seams 
have to be worked simultaneously, it is best to 
keep the drift face of the lower seam 40—30 
yards in advance. 

IO 

Bowling Alley 
Holly Lane .. 
Hard Mine ... 

27 

26 

5 ' 0" 

4 'or 
s' 6" 

5 

f 

5 

8 I 

b 

8 

do. 

do. 

do. 

1 4 ° 

650 

230 

236 

241 

On working H. L. many 
very hard over the gob area 
jigs and levels in H. 

y, ea ' s alter 11" M. had been worked, the coal was found to have set 

D • M. The drift face of H L. produced the same effect on the 
a tlle preceding case. 


11 

Four Feet .. 

Five Feet 

-1 

25 

4 ' 9 " 

5' 8" 

0 

0 i 

do. 

do. 

do. 

40° 

250 

52 

58 

On working the Four £ 
had been worked fro 111 
profitable to work, owing 
less timber was used an 

^. er an area of 80 yds. x 70 yds. more than a year after the Five F. 
^ the coal was found much harder to cut and hole, but more 

0 a S 1 eater yield of round coal. The roof was generally improved, 
e recovered. 


12 

Four Feet ... 
Five Feet 

20 

7' 0" 

S' 6" 

2 



do. 

65 ° 

200 

120 

It was intended to worK 
set so hard that itwuldno> 

he I out I. after pq ve p. had been worked out, but the coal had 

* worked to profit. 

It is best to work these seams on the same level, 
and to keep the face in each seam close together. 

13 

Seven Feet B. 

Eight Feet B. 

35 

6' 0" 

7' 0" 

---L 

0 

0 

do. 

Moder¬ 

ately 

Strong 

Hard, 
except 
2in. bass 

Strong 

do. 

do. 

50 ° 

400 

80 

89 

The Eight F. was 
hard. More round coal 
of the coal. j< 

The Seven F. was *0 
making it very costly 1,1 

*8 months before the Seven F. The latter was found very 

1 uct( l> but the extra cost of getting exceeded the increased value 

two years before the Eight F. The latter had set very hard, 

It is not advisable to work these two seams 
separately. They should be worked together, 
the 7 ft. being a little in advance of the 8 ft. 

14 

Rider . 

Ash . 

7 

4' 0" 

7 ' 0" 

all 

i 



do. 

do. 

8 ° 

349 

127 

R. was worked over »» 
A. pillars were left (n 
gob the R: coal was cr » 
were occasional pocke 

t) l/ tWt i acres > eight years after A. had been worked. Where the 
md w r was hound very hard, and the roof too ; but over the A. 
ressir r, aS \ ? on ® e quently soft to work, but more slack was made. There 

• 


























































































































































CHAPTER VI. 


GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE 
METHODS OF SUPPORTING 
THE ROOF. 


The roof has generally to be supported, not only 
to ensure the safety of the workmen, but also to enable 
them to pursue their work at all. This is done in a 
variety of ways, according to the nature of the seam 
worked. 

1. By packing the gob area entirely, and timbering 
at the face—in longwall, when the seams contain many 
bands, or when the floor has to be taken up. 

2. By partial packing of the gob area by stone 
cogs, pinnings, or packs, with intervening wastes—in 
longwall and the most general way. 

3. By timbering at the face and leaving small coal 
or stone pillars behind in the gob as supports. This 
is usual where no packing material can be obtained 




36 


METHODS OF SUPPORTING ROOF. 


from the seam, and it is customary in some of the 
bank and pillar workings, and in the case of one seam 
worked by the Lancashire method, and in a few stone 
seams which are worked by board and pillar. 

4. By timbering alone, without any packing what¬ 
ever, as in the Lancashire method, board and pillar 
and longwall homewards generally. 

5 By self-packing of the gob in “ Rearer” work¬ 
ings after it has been “shot.” In some of the Rearer 
seams timbering is occasionally put up, but in others, 
notwithstanding their great thickness, no timber what¬ 
ever is set, as already explained above. In some 
instances in the Kidsgrove district, where the roof is 
very bad, and the dip 65°, packs are built systematically. 
(Fig. 274). 



CHAPTER VII. 


'CLASSIFICATION OF TIMBER 
SUPPORTS USED EITHER IN 
SINGLE PIECES OR IN COM¬ 
BINATIONS. 


The following single pieces and combinations of 
timber are set to support the roof and sides in travel¬ 
ling roads and working places in the Mines of North 
Staffordshire :— 

1. Sprags : 

(а) Without lids: 

1. Top sprags or short posts. (Fig. 141). 

2. Bottom sprags. (Fig. 19). 

( б ) With lids. (Fig. 182). 

2. Cockers, cockermegs, cocker-sprags, or knee-joints. 

(Fig. 107). 




38 CLASSIFICATION OF TIMBER SUPPORTS. 


3. Stretchers : 

(а) Set against posts. (Fig. 134). 

( б ) Set against cogs. (Fig. 178). 

4. Posts: 

(а) With lids. (Fig. 23). 

( б ) Without lids. (Fig. 187). 

(c) With footlids. (Fig. 114). 

5. Posts and bars : 

(a) One bar and three posts. (Fig 119). 

(b) One bar and two posts—bond-timber. 

(Fig- 137 )- 

(c) One bar and one post. (Fig. 120). 

(d) Single bar, also called stretcher. (Fig. 51). 

6. Chocks, or wooden cogs. (Fig. 254). 

7. Slabs : 

( а ) At the back of posts—lagging. (Fig. 287). 

( б ) Over bars—runners. (Fig. 54). 

8. Other single pieces or combinations : 

(a) Topping “ riflemen.” (Fig. 4). 

(i) Stays. (Fig. 3). 

(1 c) Gibs,* or block sprags. (Figs. 46, 126). 

(d) Brackets, in combination with— 

1. Stretchers. (Fig. 83). v 

2. Bars. (Fig. 286). 

(*) Lacing. (Fig. 287). 

(/) Struts. (Fig. 165). 

(^•) Slab bar. (Fig. 220). 


* This word is also used for a small sprag (Fig. 214) and for a stretcher. (Fig 247J. 



CLASSIFICATION OF TIMBER SUPPORTS. 


39 


Arrangements other than supports, with a view to 
protect the workmen : 

(a) Slab posts. (Fig. 97). 

(b) Gluts. (Fig. 256). 

The pieces which are used specially for the support 
of the face are : bottom sprags, cockers and stretchers, 
in combination with posts or cogs, and slabs at the 
back of posts. Those used specially to support the 
roof are posts, stretchers, posts and bars, chocks, slabs, 
over bars, though some of these occasionally support 
the sides as well. 

It is the writer’s intention to deal exclusively with 
this class of timbering in connection with the mines of 
North Staffordshire. 



CHAPTER VIII. 


HOLING, WITH A REFERENCE 
TO SPRAGS, COCKERS AND 
STRETCHERS. 


Holing is done in the top, in the middle, or in the 
bottom of the seam, but generally in the latter; in 
thick and in thin seams ; in flat seams and in those 
inclined as much as 35 0 ; on the rise or full dip, on half¬ 
dip and on the level or strike. Under these various 
conditions a rule to determine generally the proper 
inclination of a sprag is valuable. 

1. Holing on the rise or full dip. 

When the coal or ironstone generally is coherent 
and free from slips, and where the end of the holing 
is next the floor, and not horizontally above the point 
of the coal to which the sprag is applied the tendency 
of the coal is to fall round arcs of circles, of which the 




HOLING, &c. 


41 


centre is the end of the holing. The pressure of the 
coal on a sprag at A (Figs. 297 and 238) acts conse¬ 
quently at right angles to line AC, in the direction of 
the tangent of arc AR at A. The intensity of this 
force is more or less increased by the pressure of the 
roof on the coal. The resisting force of the floor acts 
at right angles to line BC, the dip of the mine. To 
meet these two forces equally the sprag should form 
an equal angle with each of them, consequently it 
should assume a position at right angles to line CD, 
which bisects angle ACB, or : Where the end of the 
holing is horizontally under that part of the coal to 
which the sprag is applied, the latter should be set so 
as to form a right angle with a line drawn through the 
end of the holing and the centre of that part of the 
sprag, which stands above a line drawn through the 
end of the holing and parallel to the dip of the mine. 
Where the holing is next the floor this last line will lie 
in the floor itself. By determining the inclination of a 
sprag supporting the coal at E (Fig. 297) according 
to this rule it will be found that EF is nearer the 
vertical than AB, and that the longer the sprag the 
more it should be inclined. If this rule were applied 
on first starting to hole (Fig. 298), the inclination of a 
sprag at AB would be much greater than when the 
holing is completed, as in Fig. 297. It will be apparent 
that if a sprag were to be constantly in the most 
efficient position it would have to pass gradually from 
inclination AB in Fig. 298 to that of AB in Fig. 297 
as the holing advances. The force at A will, however, 
not only be altering its direction, but also its intensity, 


42 


HOLING, &c. 


so that a sprag which cannot in practice be reset over 
and over again as the holing advances will have to be 
set from the first to act most effectively when the 
holing has reached its termination, as in Fig. 297. 
Where the end of the holing is horizontally above 
that part of the coal to which the sprag is applied, or 
where the coal is loose, or contains slips in particular 
directions, it has the tendency to fall in the sense of 
gravitation, and a vertical force alone has to be con¬ 
sidered. The proper position for a sprag in such cases 
is one forming an equal angle with the vertical coal 
pressure (Fig. 155) and the direction of greatest resist¬ 
ance of the floor. The same applies to Figs. 21, 232 
and 264, etc. Where sprags are well let in at the foot 
they may be set leaning slightly more towards the face, 
as AS in Fig. 297 (Fig. 69), but any deviation from 
the above rule would be wrong with hard floors, such 
as in Fig. 143, where sprags can hardly be impressed 
into it. 

2. Holing in a level direction or on the strike of the 
seam, as shewn in Figs. 18—20. 

In this case the pressure of the stone is in a direc¬ 
tion corresponding to the resultant of two forces acting 
in planes at right angles to each other (along the line 
of strike and that of dip), and to the plane of stratifi¬ 
cation, The direction of the first of these two forces, 
that in the line of strike, which is the direction of 
the holing, is determined in the same way as in 1. 
The direction of the other force, that in the line of 
dip, is either (a) that of gravitation, or ( 6 ) that of one 
of its resultants, the one at right angles to the plane of 


HOLING, &c. 


43 


stratification. The full force of gravitation comes into 
play when the stone is holed at the cutting end, where 
it is unsupported by adjoining stone, and the one 
resultant only, when a long face is holed, and the stone 
supports itself partially. In (a) the sprag should be set 
in a plane determined by the line of strike and a line 
which forms an equal angle with a vertical line E 
(Fig. 20), representing the force of gravitation, and a 
line at right angles to the resisting force of the floor F. 
In ( 6 ) the sprag should be set in a plane at right angles 
to the plane of stratification along the line of .strike. 
The inclination of sprags in those planes is determined 
by 1. (Fig. 19). 

3. Holing on half-dip. 

In this case the direction of the pressure is also 
the resultant of two forces acting in planes at right 
angles to the plane of stratification, but these planes 
are not at right angles to each other. The one plane, 
as before, is in the line of dip, but the other is at right 
angles to the face of the holing, and the direction of 
the pressure in that plane is determined as in 1. The 
same observation made as regards the force in the line 
of dip in 2. applies here. 

In order to determine the position of the foothole 
of a sprag in this case, the position of the footholes of 
sprags set to meet each of these forces separately may 
be determined, and the point against which the sprags 
are applied projected on to the floor. A fourth point 
produced by a parallelogram of which these three 
points are the other points determines the proper 
position of the foothole. 


44 


HOLING, &c. 


In 2. this parallelogram becomes a rectangle. 

In seams in which slips occur frequently, or in 
thick seams where the coal or the stone hangs over, or 
where the holing is deep, or where the dip of the 
seam is considerable, one of the following combinations 
should be used :— 

1. Double sprags, or two rows. 

2. Cockers and sprags. 

3. Posts and stretchers, and sprags. 

• 

The stretchers are sometimes supported by chocks 
or by stone cogs. Cockers are extensively used ; they 
are very efficient, and cannot be reeled out of position. 
The crosspiece between the top and bottom sprags is 
usually 4'—5' long, presenting a large surface of 
resistance. They contain the principle of the knuckle 
joint, for the greater the pressure of the coal the 
stronger is the grip at the roof and floor, and this also 
helps to support the roof. 

In steep mines (Figs. 237 and 238) it is preferable 
not to trust to sprags entirely, as there is a probability 
that they may not be correctly set. Several accidents 
have occurred from this cause. The sprag has either 
not been stamped sufficiently and has given way at 
the foot, or has not been properly notched into the 
coal, and has slid up along its face, or the sprag not 
being placed at the right inclination has been reeled 
over by the falling coal. In such cases stretchers set 
from a post to the face are indispensable. The post 
should be placed as near the face as possible, thereby 


HOLING, &c. 


45 


reducing the length of the stretcher. These posts 
and stretchers are much used, especially in the thicker 
seams. (Fig. 89). 

Sprags should be well stamped whenever it is 
possible. This applies especially to the steeper seams, 
in which from want of this precaution fatal accidents 
have occurred ; the sprag has sprung out at the foot, 
and the coal has fallen on the collier. 

A peculiar mode of spragging deserves to be men¬ 
tioned. The seam—Brown Mine (Fig. 46) is holed 
in the middle, a depth of 18", and tapering wooden 
wedges, i' long, called “ gibs,” are hammered in about 
3' apart. Further north, where the section of the 
seam is slightly different, the holing is from 2' to 2' 3" 
deep, and short sprags are set under the top band. 
These sprags cannot be stamped, owing to their rest¬ 
ing on a band of stone. Fig. 44 represents a place 
where a fatal accident occurred to the holer. He was 
holing extra deep, 3' under a detached piece supported 
by a sprag. As the holing reached a joint the piece 
was liberated, it slipped the sprag, and fell on to the 
holer’s head. It would be advisable in cases of this 
kind to use sprags not thinner than 8", or to apply 
thick wedges, as above; and to set stretchers off the 
posts when holing deeper than the ordinary distance. 
Spragging in the ironstone seams generally requires 
the greatest care, as they contain so many joints. 
Several accidents have occurred from persons passing 
along the face after the sprags had been drawn, when 
the coal or stone has fallen upon them. This is such 


46 


HOLING, &c. 


a needless risk to run that accidents from this cause 
ought never to occur. 

Where the roof is exceedingly soft and crumbly, 
as in Figs. 219 and 220, the coal is holed in patches, 
and slabs used even whilst holing. 

Where the coal is holed in the top, sprags assume 
the nature of small posts, and should be set regularly, 
as accidents have occurred from falls of roof at the 
face from a neglect of this very necessary precaution. 



CHAPTER IX. 


POSTS, WITH ESPECIAL REGARD TO 
THEIR POSITION IN WORKING 
PLACES. 


The tendency of the roof is to fall in the direction 
of gravitation, in line BG (Fig. 56). But where the 
roof is solid, and holds together, like that in Fig. 56, 
this force of gravitation represented by line BG is 
resolved into two forces, represented by line BO, 
parallel to the dip of the seam, and line BV, at right 
angles to the dip. As the line BO is equalized by 
an opposing force inherent in the roof itself, the 
only force or pressure to be provided against is that 
represented by line BV ; and as the resisting force of 
the door is greatest in a direction at right angles to its 
inclination, it follows that the most effectual position 
for posts and all props to support the roof is at right 
angles to the dip of the seam, or square under the 
work. 




48 


POSTS. 


In practice posts are not set in this position except 
in nearly flat seams ; the greater the dip of the seam 
the more the posts are underset or inclined upwards. 

Fig. 302 shews the manner in which the writer 
made these observations, with a rough wooden clino¬ 
meter, 16 in. long and x / 2 in. broad. By applying it 
first to the roof and then to the post the difference 
between the angle of the dip of the seam at that point 
and the angle formed by the post and a vertical line, is 
easily determined, and this gives the number of 
degrees that the post is underset. 

If the angles are equal the post is square with the 
dip, or fully on the set. 

There are other points to be considered in setting 
posts, besides the most effectual position to resist the 
pressure of the roof. Posts which are fully on the set 
are likely to be reeled out if struck by pieces of roof 
or coal. If slightly underset a blow on the head will 
tighten them still further, or break them ; whilst they 
should not give way by a blow at the foot, if sufficiently 
stamped. The greater the dip of the seam the more 
frequent are falls of coal from the face. The formation 
of the face, however, may in some cases be such that 
coal falling from it may hit a post more or less side¬ 
ways, and knock it out, even if well set. A fatal 
accident occurred from this cause in the Ash Seam. 
(Fig. 127). A large lump of coal fell from off a slip 
and reeled a post out, behind which the collier stood, 
and killed him. The post having just been set, had 
not been subjected to the tightening action of the roof. 


POSTS. 


49 


The adjoining post, which had been set longer, was 
broken by the fall. A similar accident occurred in the 
Cockshead Seam. (Fig. 250). There is at times a 
tendency to set posts slack, relying on the tightening 
action of roof or floor to fasten them, as they are then 
in some cases not so soon broken. This may account 
for posts being frequently so easily knocked out by a 
blow when only recently set. In some seams the 
colliers set their last posts slack and find them set 
fast the next morning. Long posts are easily displaced 
by a fall in steep mines unless set very fast, and this is 
especially the case if the roof is slippery. 

Unless posts are underset in very steep mines they 
are apt to fall out before the pressure of the roof 
has tightened them. Posts are sometimes too much 
underset, owing to their being too long. Being well 
knocked down in the head and yet found to be too 
much underset they are often left in that condition 
because some trouble is incurred by deepening the 
foothole and resetting them, as setting posts, especially 
when long, in steep mines, is a tedious operation. 

The more posts are underset the easier they are to 
draw; this may account for the fact that posts are 
generally considerably more underset than is justified 
by the foregoing remarks. 

The more posts are underset the less resistance do 
they offer to the roof. They also require to be longer, 
and are consequently weaker, and in many cases are 
liable to being displaced by the heaving action of the 
floor. When cut “ askew,” and not straight, posts 




50 


POSTS. 


may be considerably underset and yet appear to the 
colliers to be “on the set,” from their fitting to the lid 
all round. 

The writer has made out the following table, which 
shews the maximum and minimum angles at which 
posts should be set in varying inclinations of the 
seam :— 


Dip of 

Seam. 

Set or Underset of Posts. 

Minimum. 

Maximum. 

6° 

o° 

1° 

12° 

o° 

2° 

18 0 

1° 

3 ° 

24 0 

1° 

4 ° 

30 ° 

2° 

5 ° 

36 ° 

2° 

6° 

42 ° 

2° 

7 ° 

48° 

3 ° 

8° 

54 ° 

3 ° 

9 ° 

and upwards. 




A liberal margin is allowed for the practical diffi¬ 
culties of setting posts at stated angles, and the 
angles given should not be surpassed. The gradual 
loss in the useful effect of posts, which results from 
their being more underset as the inclination of the 
seam increases, according to this table, and carried out 
in practice, is accompanied and balanced by a decreas¬ 
ing pressure of the roof. By comparing Figs. 56 and 










POSTS. 


51 


61 it will be seen how much the force BV is reduced 
by a steeper inclination. Where the roof in a drift is 
loosened or cracked by the fall or subsidence of 
a contiguous part, and consequent removal of its 
partial self support, or of force D (Fig. 56), the full 
force of gravitation represented by line BG comes 
into operation. A post assumes then the character of 
a sprag; its proper position is as shewn in Fig. 95, in 
which one of its sides CG halves the angle formed by 
line BG and line RG, which represents the resisting 
force of the floor. As with sprags, the deeper the 
posts are stamped the more parallel may they be set 
to line BG. 

These observations apply also to a treacherous 
roof like that shown in Fig. 82, which is very uneven. 
Should a post be incorrectly set under this roof from a 
wrong estimation of the length required, it may be 
unsafe to remove it so as to reset it without previously 
setting another near it. In cases like that represented 
in Fig. 252 the inherent resisting force of the roof 
vanishes more and more as the posts approach the 
gob, and the vertical force of gravitation comes fully 
and more intensely into play. The posts which were 
originally set at the face, with a view to meet the one 
resultant of this force, are borne down and occasionally 
broken like post P by its other resultant on approach¬ 
ing the gob. 

The same remarks apply to Fig. 107, which 
represents the section of a waste in which the top 
coals are dropped some distance behind the face, and 


52 


POSTS. 


are consequently affected by the breaks in the roof. 
These are very distinct near the edge, and cause 
entire separations in the coal. The posts which are 
originally set at the face, and eventually find their way 
to the edge of the top coal are not set with a view to 
resist the full force of gravitation. It is therefore 
essential in such cases to set several posts, in accord¬ 
ance with the altered conditions, under the edge of 
the top coals before cutting them at the sides of the 
pack (as A). Not only should these posts be set more 
on the sprag, but with due regard to the position of 
the breaks, and directly under the centre of gravity of 
semi-detached pieces. A piece of coal, 5 yards in 
length and 2 feet wide fell and killed a collier, though 
it was supported at the edge by two posts, but these 
the writer concluded, had not been set in accordance 
with the foregoing remarks. 

Though there are many considerations which 
decide the proper set of a post, or, as the colliers say : 
“ many things to look to,” the knowledge of the forces 
which come into play as described above should 
underlie them all. 

Posts against which stretchers are set require to 
be a little more underset than if intended to support 
the roof only. The same applies to jig-posts, which 
require to be well let in at the foot, and well underset 
or notched in the roof. 

In very thick seams, which require long posts, 
these should not be too thin, as they will then easily 
bend and break. The strength of two posts of equal 


POSTS. 


53 


sectional area and density is inversely as their lengths. 
Posts are invariably set with the thick end upwards. 
In respect of efficiency one end is as well upwards 
as the other, as resistance equals pressure, and the 
strength of the post corresponds to its thinnest 
sectional area. By placing the thinnest end of posts in 
the floor a smaller foothole is required, which will 
consequently take less time to cut out. Posts are 
easier to draw when tapering upwards. Being more 
solid and stronger at their thick ends, posts, when 
being set, are better able to bear the blows on their 
heads, when set with their thick ends upwards. 

Posts are usually sharpened or rounded at the foot 
to fit into the footholes, which are necessarily rather 
smaller at the bottom. A sharp edge also increases 
their tendency to split. Posts are rounded with 
heaving floors to prevent them “ mopping,” as this 
would make their withdrawal more difficult. 

Where the floor is very hard, and a foothole 
difficult to cut, a slight incision only is made to receive 
the posts, which are then slightly pointed at the foot. 

(Fig 97 )- 

In seams of moderate inclination which have a 
hard floor and a good roof, posts are sometimes 
neither sharpened nor stamped, but set slack on pieces 
of bass. (Fig. 139). The . pressure soon grinds the 
pieces of bass down and they form cushions for the 
posts. Footlids are sometimes used instead. 

Wherever the floor permits posts should be properly 
stamped. This is well attended to in steep mines, as 


54 


POSTS. 


shewn in Fig. 265, where it is necessary to get to a 
firm bottom. Stamping is often neglected in seams 
of moderate inclination, and several accidents have 
occurred in consequence, from the posts slipping out 
at the foot. 

Posts should be set from above, or from the side, 
and not from below, and this is especially necessary in 
steep seams. 

In very steep seams, when, from want of room, a 
post has to be set from below, another should be set 
from above as soon as there is room. A well-set post, 
well driven home, gives out a clear sound when 
knocked, especially when the roof has tightened it. 

In some seams there is very little pressure on the 
timber; in others (Fig. 300) there is a gradual grinding 
action, and the weaker posts shew signs of giving at 
the weakest points in two or three days. 

Where the roof is fairly solid, single posts with 
ordinary lids suffice, but where loose and jointy, either 
bars or strong lids (Figs. 124 and 211) are necessary, 
and in some cases slabs should be placed over the bars. 



CHAPTER X. 


LIDS. 


Lids are indispensable adjuncts to posts. Their 
primary use lies in wedging posts tightly to the roof. 
They also extend the supporting area, if they are thick 
enough, and project fairly beyond the posts. They are 
of great use as cushions, into which the posts can 
squeeze when subjected to weight. They enable the 
posts to last longer without cracking or bending. 

Fig. 299 shews some lid arrangements which are 
frequently met with in steep mines. 

Posts are sometimes sawn slanting, or askew, and 
the lids, as in C, are of uniform thickness. This 
enables the posts to be slightly underset, whilst retain¬ 
ing a good crowning. Posts which are sawn too much 
askew' require tapering lids, as in A. Where this is 
overdone there is a tendency to underset posts con¬ 
siderably when a good crowning is principally looked 
to and lids of uniform thickness are used. Posts 




LIDS. 


oC> 

which are considerably underset are often considered 
well set by the colliers, because their surfaces are in 
close contact with those of the lids. 

In the other arrangements the posts are all cut 
straight. They are not always driven down enough 
at the head, as in B. This is faulty and unfinished, 
and leaves a cavity or “ hollow ” between the posts 
and the lids, which, in some cases, is filled in by a thin 
wedge (glut), as in D. Posts should be driven down 
properly, instead of resorting to such expedients. 

E represents a good arrangement. The lids are 
wedge-shaped, and form a good crown on straight- 
sawn posts, allowing for a slight underset. H is also 
good, and the most usual arrangement. The lids are 
of uniform thickness, and the posts which are straight- 
sawn require to be sufficiently hammered down at the 
head, so that their lower edge may be squeezed into 
the lids. The weight of the roof soon completes any 
slight defect in the fit. Posts are sometimes too short, 
as in F, and necessitate an undesirable arrangement. 
Lids of uniform thickness are sometimes used with 
straight-sawn posts. The posts have to be set at right 
angles to the inclination of the seam for the surfaces 
to be in close contact. The lids are wedged down at 
their lower ends to make up for the posts not being 
underset, and to enable them to bear a blow from the 
head side. This arrangement is not to be recom¬ 
mended ; it is preferable to underset the posts slightly. 
The cavities over the lids should be filled in by short 
pieces of wood, as in I. 


LIDS. 


57 


Posts are said to be “ on the set,” or well set, when 
they are well “ crowned,” i.e., when the roof, lids and 
posts all fit well on to each other, and when the latter 
are neither too much underset nor necessarily at right 
angles to the dip of the seam. Posts, as in C, E, H, 
are said to be well under their work. 

Lids should project over the posts, so as to more 
than cover them all round. F represents an arrange¬ 
ment sometimes met with, and L its inevitable result. 

Fig. 300# shews the effect of slow grinding pressure 
on a post which was set without a lid. In b and c the 
posts have been squeezed fully into the lids before 
giving way themselves, and consequently they have 
lasted longer than they otherwise would have done. 
Good lids are specially advisable where the floor is 
very strong. (Fig. 50). The posts are squeezed into 
the lids, which bend over and save the posts. 

With jointy roofs, lids should be placed, if possible, 
so as to cross the joints. 

Broken bars are sometimes used as lids (Fig. 211) 
where the roof is full of slips and breaks readily ; they 
are 5"—6" square, rather long, and the unevenness of 
the roof is filled in with small wedges (timps), or larger 
pieces of wood. 

Lids are sometimes placed on sprags, especially 
in ironstone seams, (Figs. 14, 182), to extend the 
surface, when fractures or joints occur at the points at 
which the sprags are set. 

Footlids are sometimes placed under posts where 
the floor is soft or broken. (Fig. 114). 


CHAPTER XI. 


NUMBER OF POSTS REQUIRED 
IN WORKING PLACES. 


The number of posts required in working places, 
and the order in which they should be set, is principally 
dependent on the nature of the seam and the roof, and 
on the method of working. This subject is conse¬ 
quently closely connected with the matter treated of 
in Chapters III. and VI. 

The following are the customs prevalent in the 
different methods of working in the North Stafford¬ 
shire district. 

I. LANCASHIRE METHOD. 

Except in “ Rearers” * and in back-way drifts there 
are never less than three rows of posts at the face. 
(Fig. 22). The usual number is four, and sometimes 
five rows. (Figs. 51, 55, 71, 272, 276). 


* See Page 22. 





POSTS IN WORKING PLACES. 


59 


In “back-way” drifts, which are worked from a 
fast end, as many as eight rows are usual, (Figs. 72, 
74, 79, 88, 90). There were as many as thirty rows 
in one instance which came under the writer’s notice 
(Fig. 96); but such a long drift is not to be recom¬ 
mended. 

There is usually very great regularity observed in 
setting these rows of posts, with occasional exceptions. 
(Fig. 26). The rows are kept from 27" to 5' 6" distant 
from each other ; the posts in each row being from 3' 
to 5' 6", and sometimes 6 ' apart. 

2. LONGWALL METHOD. 

There are some seams in which the roof is so good, 
and the gob so completely packed, that no timber is set 
in the drifts. (Figs. 28, 36, 38, 41, 46, 47, 68). Others 
there are in which a few posts are occasionally set. 
(Figs. 39, 204). In one seam a row of posts is set 
whilst holing only. (Fig. 43). In a few seams a row of 
posts on the gob side of the rails is considered sufficient. 
(Figs. 133, 231). In others two rows are kept in the 
wastes, and an occasional post between the top rail 
and the coal when too wide. (Fig. 120). The usual 
way is to keep either one (Figs. 113, 125, 138, 225) or 
two rows of posts (Figs. 130, 136, 163, 206) on the 
waste or pack side of the rails, and to place one row 
between the face and the rails. In one case two rows 
are placed between the rails and the face, and one in 
the waste. (Fig. 213). In some cases as many as four 
rows are set between the rails and the face. (Fig. 142). 


60 


POSTS IN WORKING PLACES. 


Where the longwall face is carried forward in a level 
direction (Fig. 3), or where the face or “ buttock ” 
is kept wide (Figs. 49, 64, 66, 217), the same number 
of rows are set as in the Lancashire method. The 
rows of posts are usually from 4' to as much as 6 ' 
apart, and so are the posts in each row. The timbering 
is not everywhere so systematic as in the Lancashire 
method. In one or two instances, where only one row 
of posts is kept on the gob side of the rails, the posts 
are as near as one foot to each other. (Figs. 181, 281 
and 194). 

A special manner of setting the rows of posts is 
shewn in Fig. 210, and appears to recommend itself. 

3. BANK AND PILLAR METHOD. 

In one instance the roof is so good that no posts 
are placed next the face. (Fig. 8). 

The rails are usually shifted every 5—6 yds., which 
necessitates 4—5 rows of posts between the rails and 
the face in each wall There is usually one row of 
posts on the gob side. (Figs. 146, 150, 160, 251). 

The distances between the rows and the posts are 
as in the longwall method. 

There are many cases, especially in the longwall 
method, in which bars, in combination with one (Fig. 

118), two (Fig. 15), or three posts (Fig. 119), are set 
in drifts. In some cases where bars are necessary, room 
for a post to support it cannot always be made soon 
enough on the coal side of the rails. In such cases a 
temporary—foreset—post (Fig. 222) requires to be set. 


POSTS IN WORKING PLACES. 


Some workings (Figs. 33, 127, 230) require an 
assortment of posts of various lengths. 

Too many rows of posts in a drift lessen the 
security, as will be explained in Chapter XIII., when 
dealing with timber drawing. It is possible to support 
a large loose mass of roof by a sufficient quantity of 
properly set posts, but the strength of the total support 
is equal to that of the least well timbered point in the 
drift, for the roof having once got a start at that point 
may catch the other posts sideways, and knock them 
out, however well they may be set. This is one 
amongst other reasons why falls of roof occur in drifts 
which are apparently sufficiently timbered, as in Figs. 
156 and 157, and in Fig. 92. 

The accidents described in Figs. 87, 92, and 257 
shew that the number of posts, as ordinarily set, is in 
some cases not sufficient to keep up the roof. 

A number of posts which would in some cases be 
adequate to support the roof when the drift is advanced 
quickly, prove insufficient when delays occur. Any 
prolonged cessation of work is detrimental to the 
timber, which is soon affected by roof and floor. 



CHAPTER XII. 


CHOCKS, STONE COGS AND 
PACKS. 


CHOCKS. 

These are wooden erections for supporting the 
roof. They are made either of round timber from 
broken or damaged posts (Fig. 234, 257), or of 
specially square cut pieces (Figs. 5, 106), laid, in pairs, 
crosswise over one another. They are used in gob 
roads and in drifts. The timbers forming chocks in 
gob roads are from 2' 6" to 5', and even 5' 6" long. 
The inner space formed by them is filled with mine 
dirt. 

The timbers forming those which are set in drifts are 
seldom longer than 3 feet. They have been, however, 
as long as 6 feet. The first pair is laid on a small 
heap of mine dirt, which facilitates the removal of the 
chocks, as it can be dug into. The space formed by 
the timbers is not filled with mine dirt. 




CHOCKS. 


63 


Chocks which are built at the side of gob roads are 
left in, but those built in drifts are usually taken out 
and moved forward. (Figs. 102, 106). In one case 
some are left in the gob. (Fig. 5). 

Chocks are extremely efficient supports, and a freer 
use of them would tend to reduce a certain class of 
accidents, such as the one described in Fig. 92, and 
the fall described in Fig. 271. The one illustrated in 
Fig- 2 57 would not have occurred had the chock been 
nearer the face. 

Chocks are not often used in the steeper mines, 
except at the high side of levels, to assist the packs, 
and in jigs. (Fig. T54). They are then built against 
a post, which is removed after the chock is fastened 
by the roof. The same remarks as to the inclination 
of posts in steep mines apply to chocks. 

STONE COGS. 

Small cogs, usually called “ Riflemen,” are built as 
supports in some of the ironstone seams. They are 
made of pieces of stone or oilshale. (Figs. 3, 18, 258). 
Where the inclination of the seam is considerable a 
post is first set, and the stones then erected against it. 
They are topped with pieces of timber, to ease the 
pressure. (Fig. 4). The post is eventually removed 
and the stone recovered. 

They are usually erected in conjunction with posts. 
(Fig. 254), but occasionally alone. (Figs. 11 and 12). 
They are generally from 18"— 2' 6" square, but some¬ 
times larger. (Figs. 175 and 178). These “Riflemen” 


64 


STONE COGS. 


do not give one the appearance of very strong 
supports; but where they are used the roofs are 
generally strong, and no accidents have occurred 
through their giving way. 

PACKS. 

Packs, which are chacteristic of the longwall 
method of working, are broad solid walls, built of 
rubble stone, at regular intervals to support the roof 
and to delay its subsidence. The intervening cavities 
are called “wastes.” The number and size of the 
packs depends on the material available for the pur¬ 
pose. Where the seam itself does not produce 
“ builders ” they are often got from the roof when it 
breaks in the wastes. Where there is a scarcity of 
builders in a drift at starting, walls and cross-walls are 
sometimes built, as in Fig. 188, until the first weight 
occurs, which then supplies further packing material. 

In flatter mines the first builders are sometimes 
brought from adjoining levels or other places in which 
suitable material is produced. At other times the roof 
is partly blown down to obtain the first builders, as 
shewn in Fig. 153. 

Where builders are plentiful the packs should not 
be built too far apart. The accident illustrated in Fig. 
157 occurred partly in consequence of the waste being 
so wide. Packs should be regularly formed and kept 
up to the face systematically. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


TIMBERING IN LEVELS 
AND DIPS. 


Timbering in levels and dips requires to be more 
permanent than in drifts. In some cases, where the 
roof has to be stripped (or ripped) for height, or 
to get at a more solid stratum, it is allowed to settle 
first before the permanent timber is put in; some 
temporary timbering being put in meanwhile. 

As in the drifts, so in the roads, the purpose of 
timbering is often not only to protect the workmen, 
but also to prevent the roads from closing in and 
interfering with traffic ; this is especially the case in 
the softer strata. 

The greatest pressure is usually from the roof; 
where the floor is soft a side pressure often accom¬ 
panies the heaving action of the floor. 




66 TIMBERING IN LEVELS AND DIPS. 

The ordinary combination of timbering consists of 
two legs (posts or stoops) and a bar (cap). It is 
known as “ bond timber.”* One leg is often dispensed 
with, and occasionally both, when the bar is called a 
“stretcher.” 

The bar is jointed to the posts in a variety of ways, 
more or less influenced by the direction of the pressure. 
The joints met with in North Staffordshire are repre¬ 
sented in Fig. 285. 

In C, E and K no provision is made for side 
pressure, except a slight spragging of the leg. In the 
other figures various ways of providing against side 
pressure are shewn. 

A. The bar is cut so that the surfaces may rest closely 
on those of the pointed leg. 

B and C. These are the same as A, except that the 
bar surfaces are independent of those of the leg, 
which is considerably spragged. 

A, B and C are deteriorations of an efficient joint 
represented in Fig. 287 A, and frequently adopted 
where there is much side pressure. These arrange¬ 
ments are occasionally met with in the Kidsgrove 
district, and are not to be recommended. 

D. The post is slightly lipped, or notched. This is 

the usual way throughout North Staffordshire. 

E. The bar is slightly flattened, and the post soon 

squeezes into it. This is also usual where there 


% Bond timber is often set in drifts, but without any jointing. (Fig. 223). 



TIMBERING IN LEVELS AND DIPS. 67 

is no side pressure. In some cases the post is 
the least bit “hollowed out” and the bar un¬ 
touched. Where there is a slight side pressure a 
bracket is sometimes fastened to the bar, as in 
M, until the post has been slightly squeezed into 
the bar by the roof pressure, when the bracket 
is generally removed. 

F. The leg is hollowed out to receive the bar. Unless 

it is carefully cut, so as to ensure an even bearing, 
there is a possibility of the leg splitting. This 
plan is not usual. 

G. This is the same as D, with the addition of a 

“stay” to resist side pressure. It is placed 
between the legs and soon fastened by the 
pressure, but is only occasionally met with. 

H. Where the pressure is not great, and the roof 

breaks “short,” large bars are frequently split ; 
each half being used separately, and holding 
like “leather.” This plan is not to be recom¬ 
mended, except in some cases to gain height. 

I. The leg is here set back or spragged (6" for a 6' 

post), and the bar flattened to receive it. 

K. Occasionally both leg and bar are cut slanting. 

This is a good joint, as neither bar nor legs are 
weakened by further cutting. It is well calculated 
to resist pressure from both roof and sides. 

L. In a main road, where a thick bar is required, a 

hard lid is sometimes placed between the bar 
and the post, to prevent the latter being squeezed 
into the former. 


68 


TIMBERING IN LEVELS AND DIPS. 


M. This is the same as I, with the addition of a 

bracket secured to the bar by two spike nails 
when a slight side pressure is expected. 

N. The bar and the legs are here cut rectangularly. 

This joint is in vogue in ironstone mines in the 
Silverdale district.* 

O. This shews the influence of side pressure on the 

legs when not set back enough, or with a lifting 
floor. 

Asa rule, the simpler the joints are and the less 
cutting is done the better in every respect. Where a 
little cutting is advisable great care should be taken to 
make the surfaces bear evenly on each other. Iron 
nails should not be used for jointing. 

Injured bars are often made serviceable a little 
longer by arrangements as shewn in Fig. 286, A, B 
and C. 

A. Shews a “break” in the bar due to “lipping;” a 

foreset post is set to keep it up. This arrange¬ 
ment is possible only where the road is broad 
enough. 

B. Explains itself. 

C. A post is set in the middle of the bar. This is 

possible in a broad road ; usually at “ shunts.” 

D. A middle post is often set before the bar is 

affected ; as in a junction between an engine dip 
and a' level in the Cockshead Seam—Longton 
district. 


The common method in the Freiberg metalliferous mines, 



TIMBERING IN LEVELS AND DIPS. C>9 

Fig. 287. A and B shew a complete bond timber 
arrangement. The legs are set back, owing to the 
heaving action of the floor. 

A small plank or footlid is sometimes placed under 
the legs. (Fig. 287, C). 

Bars and legs should fit closely against the roof 
and sides, except where the side pressure is consider¬ 
able, when it is preferable not to place the bar “ end 
tight,” as they will last longer. 

Bars should be tightened to the roof at the ends 
rather than in the middle. 

Where the roof has come in there will often be a 
space over the bars. All such spaces, whether above 
the bars or behind the legs, should be closely packed 
(Fig. 287), or, if too large, there should be some 
further timbering above the bars. (Fig. 291). Where 
the space is not too large, as in Fig. 287, slabs 
(runners, coverers, lagging, poling) are placed over the 
bars, and the space filled with mine dirt. In some 
cases two or three layers of slabs (either round or flat) 
are placed crosswise above one another. It is also 
usual in some cases to lace the legs of two consecutive 
bond timbers together to prevent their moving. This 
is done by nailing an inch board near the top, called 
“lacing,” which is either removed after a while or left. 
Where spaces intervene behind the legs boards 
(lagging) are placed behind them, to prevent their 
flying back. 

Broken bars are generally left in for a time, but 
they are “ lined ” by new ones close to them. 


70 TIMBERING IN LEVELS AND DIPS. 

When a leg has either to be replaced or reset, from 
its having been moved out at the foot or broken, 
another post (foreset) is first set under the bar, and 
afterwards removed. An accident described in Fig. 
195 was caused by neglecting this precaution. 

Bars supported by a post at one end only (Fig. 
290, B), or by a short post (Fig. 290, C), are often 
sufficient. They are sometimes supported by two 
short posts. (Fig. 54). 

Single bars or stretchers are much used. They 
are usually stamped at the lower side, as in Fig. 288, 
which represents a level. The thin end (a) of the bar 
is slightly sharpened and stamped, and the thick end 
( 6 ) then knocked in sideways and wedged until it fits 
closely. 

The bars are occasionally stamped in at the high 
side, as in Fig. 289, A and B, which represents eleva¬ 
tion and enlarged plan of heading F, in Fig. 51. 

Owing to the badness of the roof the headings are 
driven narrow, so that there is no room for a post on 
the high side. But as a post will be needed under the 
top end of the bar when the drifting reaches it, pro¬ 
vision is made for this by stamping the bar at the high 
side at least 6". A post may then be placed under the 
bar without removing it when the coal is drifted. 

In a dip single bars are usually knocked in side¬ 
ways from the high side (Fig. 290 A); where one leg 
is set, as in Fig. 290 B, it is often knocked into its 
place upwards. 


TIMBERING IN LEVELS AND DIPS. 71 

The same considerations which apply with regard 
to the inclination of single posts in drifts also apply in 
the case of legs of bond timber, with this difference, 
that in dips the legs should be but very slightly under¬ 
set. If too much underset the heaving action of some 
floors, to which they are exposed for a considerably 
longer period than posts in drifts, will gradually heave 
them straight up. 

Fig. 292 represents the timbering of an air and 
travelling dip. 

Where a wide dip is driven at a steep inclination, 
as in the Seven Feet Banbury, Silverdale district, two 
rows of posts are usually set. When the dip is com¬ 
pleted, bond timber is set against each pair of single 
posts, on the high side, and these help to support the 
bars until the weight has fastened them. The single 
posts are generally left in after that object is attained, 
as they support the sleepers of the jig rails. 

In the case of plumb rearer seams (Fig. 293), in 
which the seam is vertical, the timbering of dips has 
to be regulated by the fact that the weight of the coal 
roof acts vertically, or in the direction of gravitation. 
The legs a are consequently much underset, and in 
case a good foothole can be secured, as at b , nearly 
upright. 

The protection of the sides, especially the high 
side, is very important where the seams are much 
inclined. This is usually done by setting posts at the 
high side, and placing slabs (lagging, Fig. 287) behind 


72 


TIMBERING IN LEVELS AND DIPS. 


them. Fig. 84 shews such an arrangement. In this 
case the post is so long that, unless supported in the 
centre by a stretcher stamped in the rock roof, it 
would bulge out in the middle. Fig. 53 also shews 
how part of the side has to be slabbed. It was from 
a want of this precaution that the accident illustrated 
in Fig. 101 occurred. 

Fig. 294 represents a method of keeping back the 
high side in a level with a strong roof. 

A good arrangement for saving timber, in vogue in 
the Sheath Mine, Silverdale district, is shewn in Figs. 
295 A and 296 A, in which a stone cog has to be sup¬ 
ported on the high side of a level. The roof is very 
strong and the floor lifts and breaks the posts set to 
support the cog. (Fig. 295 B). By setting every 
second post as shewn, 12 inches from the roof, and 
supported by a stretcher well stamped into the roof, 
they are gradually heaved up into permanent position 
(Fig. 296 B) without breaking. 

Posts are stamped considerably more in dips and 
levels and all permanent places than in drifts. 



CHAPTER XIV. 


DRAWING TIMBER. 


Timber drawing, and that which goes hand in hand 
with it, cutting down the tops in thick seams and 
removing or loosening coal posts in some seams, is 
attended with more risk than any other underground 
occupation. There are seams in which, owing to their 
nature and the method of working which it is possible 
to adopt, the risk is reduced to a minimum, but 
ordinarily the risk is great, and under some conditions, 
and with methods of working which certain seams 
necessitate, it is considerable 

The principal object in drawing the back timber 
in most coal seams, and of partially recovering or 
breaking up coal posts which are left behind in some 
methods of working, is to enable the roof to settle 
equally and to relieve the weight at the face, which 
would otherwise become excessive. 




74 


DRAWING TIMBER. 


Where the back timber is drawn, and the roof 
thereby allowed to weight in the wastes, it acts as a 
lever, of which the fulcrum lies over the end of the 
holing (underholing), and exerts a slight, but bene¬ 
ficial pressure at the face of the coal. But if the 
back timber is not drawn the weight is thrown back on 
to the face in considerable excess, and holds the coal 
fast, making it more difficult to get. In some instances 
it will cause the roof to break above the end of the 
holing, thereby removing the beneficial leverage off 
the next lift. 

Accidents have occurred from the back timber 
having been left in too long (Figs. 156 and 157), and 
though timber drawing is dangerous, if the timber 
were left the danger would increase considerably, quite 
irrespective of the waste of timber which this would 
entail. 

Timber which has been drawn can generally be 
used again several times, and, if broken, serves for lids 
and, in some cases, for chocks. 4 

The effect of the weight being thrown on to the 
face is felt more in some seams than in others, accord¬ 
ing to the nature of the roof. It is, as a rule, not only 
necessary to take the back timber out, but the removal 
should be made as quickly as possible, always allowing 
sufficient timber at the face where the men are 
working. 

In working some of the ironstone seams the timber 
is left and not drawn, and there is no appreciable effect 


DRAWING TIMBER. 75 

felt at the face. (Figs. 7, 5). In working the Sheath 
Mine (Fig. 36) the weight of the roof helps to get the 
stone. 

If posts are left in the waste too long they become 
difficult to draw, as the combined action of the floor 
and of the roof tighten them very soon. Posts nearest 
the gob require much longer time to draw, as they 
have been longer exposed to this action ; this applies 
still more to bond timber. 

In the face-way drifts (Silverdale district) the 
timber can be drawn regularly, and a back row drawn 
after a front row has been set; but in back-way drifts 
the timber has to be all drawn after the drift is 
completed, and this operation is considered the most 
dangerous. 

It requires great judgment and experience to know 
in what order the posts in particular wastes should be 
drawn. It may be necessary to leave two or three 
behind, for the purpose of recovering the others with a 
little more safety. A damaged post, very tightly stuck, 
is generally left. The timber is not drawn where the 
roof is too dangerous. Sometimes taking out one post 
starts the roof, which then falls, bringing a number of 
other posts with it. Thirty have been known to come 
down in this way in the 7 ft. Banbury Seam. In seams 
of steep inclination, and worked by the Lancashire 
method, the lowest posts in each row are usually 
drawn first. Not more than one post should be drawn 
at a time, and there should be complete silence whilst 
this is being done. There should never be less than 


76 


DRAWING TIMBER. 


two or three men to draw timber, or to be present 
whilst this is done. 

It is very interesting to watch two or three ex¬ 
perienced men drawing timber together ; they work 
with remarkable readiness and quickness, and well 
into each others hands ; they know when to make a 
push and when to hold back. 

A certain percentage of timber is lost throughout, 
which is as high as 50% in the bank and pillar work, 
shewn in Fig. 251. It is lowest in pure longwall. 

Timber is drawn in several ways. The tools and 
appliances used for this purpose are shewn in Fig. 301. 
The first thing is to loosen the post This is done 
either at the foot or at the head, according as to which 
is easier. The pick is used for this operation, and 
sometimes a crowbar or drill. If the foot is not too 
much buried the floor is generally removed all round 
it. In case the foot is difficult to get at, the roof is cut 
along or over the lid, or the lid is split. Some posts 
require very little loosening. After the post has been 
loosened the actual drawing takes place. With a pretty 
safe roof, the post is knocked out with a hammer, after 
all loose pieces have been pulled down from the roof, 
and removed by hand. Where the roof cannot be 
trusted the man jumps back immediately after having 
dealt a blow at the head of the post. If unsuccessful, 
he repeats this until the post falls, waiting and listening 
a little between each try. He or his mate then generally 
sticks his pick into the post and drags it out, and in 


DRAWING TIMBER. 


77 

this way he avoids placing himself under the portion 
of roof which is now unsupported. The lid, if possible, 
is recovered in the same way. In many cases the post, 
after having been loosened with a pick, is loosened still 
further by hammering, after which a dog and chain is 
applied from another post at a safe distance, and 
the post levered out with safety. In some cases, 
where the foot is inaccessible, from its being sur¬ 
rounded with pieces of broken roof, or where the floor 
has lifted all round it to a considerable height, the post 
is cut with a sharp axe where exposed, if this can be 
done without shaking the roof. In others, if the head 
of the post only is accessible, a dog and chain is 
applied to it in such a way as to draw it up. The 
chain is slung round the post and forms a noose, into 
which the end of the dog is inserted. The dog rests 
on a post placed horizontally near the one which it is 
intended to draw. The greater the force exerted to lift 
the post out the tighter is the grip of the chain. 

An additional help is in use at a large colliery in 
the Norton district, and the writer thinks might be 
used in many cases with advantage. It consists of 
a rope 7 yds. long, with a hook to it. The end 
with the hook is lashed round the post which is 
to be drawn, and the other end is securely fastened 
to a firmly-set post at some distance to the rise. (Fig. 
252 and 301). After the post has been sufficiently 
loosened, or whilst it is being hammered, or whilst the 
dog and chain are being applied, a sudden jerk pro¬ 
duced by one or two men throwing their weight on to 
the tightened rope will materially help to draw the 


78 


DRAWING TIMBER. 


post, and drag it out immediately whilst the men are 
out of danger. 

In the Silverdale district in some seams of an 
inclination of about 45 0 , where the floor is pretty soft, 
the foot of the post is exposed on the high side by 
removal of the floor with a pick, and the post knocked 
at the head upwards with a wooden mallet. (Figs. 81 
and 301). 

Timber drawing in connection with falling and 
cutting down top coals requires more care than ordinary 
timber drawing, inasmuch as the object is not only to 
draw the timber, but also to get out as much coal as 
possible. 

In the Bullhurst Seam in the Silverdale district 
(Figs. 96 and 97), the tops are cut up to the roof on 
the high side next the small rib which is usually left, 
and on the lower side for a distance of a few yards, 
generally to a slip. The lids are loosened by picking 
the coal around and above them, and the posts are 
then sometimes battered out from a distance, by 
throwing a post against them. If the removal of the 
posts does not bring down the tops a wedge is applied 
in the roof at a slip, and hammered in until they 
drop. In some cases a plug and feathers are used for 
this purpose. Volumes of dust are produced by even 
a small fall of tops. The tops are not dropped at a 
greater rate than about one yard a day. 

Bond timber is more difficult to draw than single 
posts. The legs have often to be sawn at the foot 
before hammering at them, and ringers have to be 
applied between the bar and the roof to get it down. 


CHAPTER XV. 


CUSTOMS WITH REGARD TO 
SETTING AND DRAWING 
TIMBER. 


There are four distinctive systems of immediate 
supervision over the men, with which the custom of 
drawing and setting timber is more or less interwoven. 

i. The whole pit, if small, and each seam or large 
district in an extensive colliery, is let to a set of butties, 
usually by the ton. 

The butties generally sublet each drift or other 
working place to two or three colliers, who either 
employ a loader only, as in the Lancashire method of 
working; or several hands, as in the third system, 
which is usual in the longwall method of working. 

The butties, or men in their pay, perform the 
duties of firemen ; they are expected, not only to look 




80 


SETTING ANI) DRAWING TIMBER. 


to the forwarding of a large output, in which they are 
immediately interested, but also to look to the safety 
of the men. 

At some collieries a few main air road men are 
kept, and paid by the owners, but the butties are 
responsible for the air ways in the workings. 

The butties pay their men by the ton or by the 
day. Yardage is paid either by them or by the owners. 
In difficult places, where colliers or driftmen are unable 
to make an ordinary day’s wage, they are occasionally 
paid day wage, about 4/- at present, but drift work is 
generally paid by the ton, except at a few collieries in 
the Kidsgrove district. 

2. Districts are let to a set of butties, much in the 
same manner as in 1, but there are one or more fire¬ 
men appointed and paid by the owners, who are 
independent of the butties. In such cases the butties 
do not act as firemen, but they are expected to assist 
the firemen in seeing that the work is carried on safely. 

3. Drifts or walls and other places are let directly 
by the owners to two or more colliers, who contract 
for the work, and are called contractors or driftmen. 
They employ their own holers, loaders and other 
hands, and in a few places the taker off at the jig. 

One of these contractors is considered the leading 
man or chargeman of the drift, and it stands in his 
name. The contractors are paid by the ton, and at 
some collieries they receive allowances for moving the 
landing and for building “ carving” or air road packs, 


SETTING ANI) DRAWING TIMBER. 


81 


but these are now being much discontinued. The con¬ 
tractors pay their men by day wage and the holers 
generally by stint. 

4. There is little, if any, gang work. Each man 
or couple of men are paid separately for work done. 

In the two last systems the firemen are appointed 
and paid by the owners, as in the second system. 

These systems predominate in the order in which 
they are placed. 

The driftmen and colliers are supplied with timber 
at the face, either by the owners or the butties. 
Where the butty system prevails the butties are either 
supplied with timber at the pit bank free of cost, or it 
is sent down to them. In some cases they have to 
buy their timber, which they usually do from the 
owners, from whom they can buy small quantities at 
a time cheaper. 

In all these systems it is customary for the timber 
to be set in working places by men who are also 
engaged in coal getting. At collieries where the first 
or second system of supervision prevails, and where 
the Lancashire method of working is in vogue the two 
or three colliers in a drift each set their timber equally. 
Where there are more men in a drift, and the third 
system prevails, as in the longwall method of working, 
the coals are fallen by the chargeman (buttocker) or 
another contractor, who also sets the necessary timber 
as they go along; the holers set their sprags only, 
occasionally assisting to set posts when working by 


82 


SETTING AND DRAWING TIMBER. 


day wage. For this purpose they have axes,- saws and 
other tools near at hand, which enables them to shape 
the timber to their requirements ; this however will not 
often be necessary, as suitable lengths are generally 
sent down. 

Though it would seem as if there must be some 
occasional reluctance on the part of colliers who are 
paid by contract to have to stop getting coal for the 
purpose of setting timber, there is remarkably little 
evidence to that effect, except where the roof is very 
strong and timber seems unnecessary. Setting timber 
is a change of occupation and position, which is 
generally looked upon as a relief. The cause of any 
reluctance to set timber is, of course, removed where 
the men are paid day wage. 

Considering the great variety in the character of 
the seams, in their thickness and inclination, and in the 
methods of working which they entail, as well as the 
difficulty of travelling the steeper seams, the custom 
which prevails for coal getters, who are usually leading 
men, to set the timber in working places, appears to 
the writer to be the best for this coalfield. 

Single posts and sprags are set without any 
remuneration in the drifts and working places, but 
an allowance is usually made for setting bond timber. 

In systems i and 2 the butties timber the roads 
(dips and levels), the necessary timber for this purpose 
being generally found by the owners, and engage 
colliers to help them, paying them specially for it. At 


SETTING AND DRAWING TIMBER. 


83 


some collieries there are a few datallers paid by the 
owners, who help the butties in exceptional places. 
At others the butties keep a few special timberers 
(datallers) to set timber, and they occasionally assist 
the men to set timber in the working places. 

In the other systems the owners employ a special 
staff of road timberers. The timber is generally 
drawn either during working hours when coal-getting 
from the particular drift ceases for the time, or after 
working hours At some collieries under the first 
system the butties draw the timber themselves, or help 
the leading men to do so. 

It takes about 5—6 hours and more to draw the 
timber in a wall, as in Fig. 251. If the leading men 
of the wall are not available some other good men are 
chosen to help the butties. They receive extra pay 
for timber drawing when working overtime. 



CHAPTER XVI. 


GAS PRESSURE IN THE COAL 
AND IN THE ROOF IN RE¬ 
LATION TO THE CLASS OF 
ACCIDENTS IN OUESTION. 


Gas often occurs in coal seams in such a condensed 
condition that it issues out of the coal with consider¬ 
able force, accompanied by detonation and projection 
of fine coal dust, and in some cases of pieces of coal 
large enough to slightly injure men at the face. The 
issue of gas from the face of coal may be so rapid as 
to become what is called an “ outburst.” Outbursts of 
gas from the face are often accompanied by projection 
of coal, which may cause serious injuries to the 
workmen. 

An outburst or sudden expansion of carbonic acid 
gas (an exceedingly rare occurrence with that gas, but 
frequent with firedamp) occurred in a French colliery,* 
and was accompanied by the displacement of 75 tons 
of coal, under which one of the three men who were 
killed on that occasion was found buried. 


The accident referred to has been described by the writer before the North 
Staffordshire Institute of Engineers. 







GAS PRESSURE IN THE COAL, &c. 


85 


The pressure exerted on coal seams during or 
subsequent to their solidification may have forced gas 
out of them into their roofs or floors in proportion to 
the porosity of these strata, and to the occurrence in 
them of joints or cracks, or other openings favourable to 
its admission. As the coal is removed in the workings 
this gas exerts a downward pressure on the rock 
substances which contain it and form the roof, and so 
tend to hasten their fall. This pressure may be in¬ 
creased, or solely produced, by the gas in an overlying 
seam of coal or layer of carbonaceous shale. On the 
rocks being exposed this pressure gradually diminishes, 
according to the facility which they present to the 
egress of the gas. Any hindrance to the outflow of 
gas due to the presence in the roof* of a stratum 
which, by reason of subsequent changes imparted to it, 
becomes more or less impervious to gas, will cause an 
accumulation of gas pressure above it which may 
result in sudden falls of various sized portions of roof, 
accompanied by outbursts of gas. 

Holes, from 3'—6' deep, are frequently bored in 
the roof t in fiery seams, with a view to diminish its 
tendency to break down from this cause. By liberating 
the gas the pressure is relieved, and the roof is less 
liable to break down. This has been done at times in 
the Ash, Moss, Four Feet and Ten Feet Seams, 
with greater or less success. 

* The same remarks apply to the floor in which outbursts of gas have caused 
upheavals, often so sudden as to occasion projections of pieces of the floor, 
which in a few cases have injured workmen who were within reach. 

+ In the floor too occasionally, but then exclusively, with a view to guard against 
sudden outbursts of gas. 



CHAPTER XVII. 


ATMOSPHERIC INFLUENCE ON 
ROOFS AND SIDES. 


The action of the atmosphere must be regarded : 

i. As to its disintegrating or “weathering” effect on 
the roof. 

The action of moisture on some strata is best 
understood when it is known that holing is facilitated 
by water being thrown on to the holing dirt, and that 
this is pretty often resorted to. In the same way 
atmospheric vapour condensed by coming in contact 
with strata colder than the air which conveys it may 
have a loosening effect on them. This is more likely 
to be the case in summer with shallow mines and 
unextended workings, as the air then contains more 
moisture, and becomes rapidly cooled on entering the 
mine; nor does it regain its former temperature in 
the workings, as it would do if they were more 
extended. 




ATMOSPHERIC INFLUENCE. 


87 


2. As to the pressure exerted by it on gas-containing 
strata. 

Atmospheric pressure is so small compared to the 
pressure exerted by gas on the strata which contain it 
that any diminution in its amount can have very little 
influence in determining either a projection of the face 
or a fall of roof. It is, however, conceivable that a 
sudden diminution of atmospheric pressure may, in 
cases where gas pressure has accumulated in the roof, 
as mentioned in Chapter XVI., produce falls of roof 
sooner than under ordinary circumstances. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 


CONCLUDING REMARKS ON 
ACCIDENTS. 


The following table shews the number of accidents 
and deaths which have resulted therefrom in North 
Staffordshire during the last four years. 

It appears from these statistics that a yearly pro¬ 
duction of 6,402,782 tons of coal, fireclay, ironstone 
and shale entails at present the loss of 12 lives by 
explosions, 17 lives by falls of roof or sides and 17 
lives from other causes, as well as more or less severe 
injuries to 8 persons by explosions, to 126 persons by 
falls of roof and sides, and to 149 persons from other 
causes. This shews that falls of roof and sides are a 
far greater source of accidents even than explosions. 





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Sug 

15.5 

r o 

CO 

Cl 



U« 

HH C 4 H -1 

to 





Yearly 

Average 




0000 

0000 

CO O O t-» 

0 

0 

10 

to 

Cl 

HH 

Uh 

H 

rt 

<u 

> 

ft M to Tt- 
CO 00 CO CO 

CO CO CO CO 

M M W fH 

c i 

<p 

O 



0 

CJ 

rf N M r N 

VO 









0 00 CO VO 











vf H" vf •'f 

06^ 

HH 








Total persons 
employed 
in and about 
the Mines 

; I 5 > 58 o 

18,267 

I 7-993 

16,717 

to 

to 

00 

vO 

Cv 

CO 

HH 

HH 







U 

a 

V 

> 

M N to ’T 

CO 00 00 CO 

CO 00 00 CO 

HH HH M HH 

■*—> 

O 

H 

Yearly 

Average 

























































































90 CONCLUDING REMARKS ON ACCIDENTS. 


Accidents from falls of roof and sides occur in 
various ways, of which the principal are the following, 
some of these having already been remarked upon :— 
I. FROM SIDES AT FACE. 

1. Whilst holing— 

By insecure spragging, under peculiar 

conditions . Fig. 45 

By insufficient stamping of sprags ... ,, 94 

By improper setting of sprags in steep 

mines. ,, 237 

By breaking of overhanging coal over 

sprags. „ 130 

By passing in front of the coal after 

having drawn the sprags . ,, 268 

By dislocation of adjoining piece of 
coal through concussion produced 

by a shot . 

Whilst resetting a sprag . 

By a fall of bottom stone whilst pre¬ 
paring to hole, and neglecting to 
sound the face . „ 10 

2. Whilst pulling down coal or stone at a 

steep inclination. ,, 98 

By injudiciously standing in front of 

the coal .Figs. 83 & 250 

By working at the coal when only 
half fallen . 

2. FROM ROOF AT FACE. 

From visible slips. Figs. 231 & 267 

„ invisible (leaning) slips ... ,, 87 & 269 


CONCLUDING REMARKS ON ACCIDENTS. 91 


From beginning to hole without 
previously securing the 
roof . 

Figs. 10 

,, slips, whilst pulling down 
an unsafe piece. 

„ 24 

,, insufficiently supporting the 
roof when starting a 
longwall drift from 
pillars. 

» 174 

,, not setting foreset posts as 
soon as there is room... 

222 

„ not properly posting top coal 

„ 106 

,, incautiously cutting top coal 

„ 169 

,, not supporting the roof at 
top of jig . 

» ! 35 

,, not immediately supporting 
the roof after firing a 
shot . 

» 233 

„ removing a post without pre¬ 
viously setting another 

,, 282 


, insufficiently supporting the 
roof whilst finishing a 
drift near faulty ground 
and by the giving way 

of the posts . ,, 257 

not setting posts nearer to 
the face than 6 ft. whilst 
slicing an old pillar with 
gob on three sides 


2 53 


92 


CONCLUDING REMARKS ON ACCIDENTS. 


From reeling out of several posts 
whilst slicing a pillar ... 

,, not drawing the back timber, 
owing to the waste being 
too wide . 

Whilst timber drawing. 

,, robbing gob pillars in post 

and thurl . 

,, incautiously entering a gob 
for examination or for 
getting stones to pack 
with . 

„ setting timber. 

3. FROM SIDE IN ROADS. 

From not protecting high side of level or 

dips in steep mines . Fig. 101 

4. FROM ROOF IN ROADS. 

Whilst loosening a post in a level without 
previously setting a foreset post 
under the bar . Fig. 195 

„ robbing coal in a dip near a fault to 
make up a load. 

,, setting timber. 

„ riding in an empty or upon a full tub 
by its getting off the rails and 
striking a post with sufficient force 
to draw it from under the bar ... 


Fig. 92 

». 1 57 


CONCLUDING REMARKS ON ACCIDENTS. 


93 


There are fewer accidents from falls of side in the 
flatter than in the steeper seams, but more accidents 
from falls of roof. There are more accidents from 
falls of roof whilst robbing pillars than when working 
a longwall face in the flatter mines. 

As regards the use of candles or good glass lamps* 
in connection with falls of roof and sides, there are 
quite as many accidents with the former as with the 
latter. Where Davy lamps are used it may be more 
difficult to see slips in the roof owing to the small 
amount of light which these lamps give. 

Bad trade and other causes leading to partial 
cessation of work and consequent slow extension of 
the face in working places may account to a small 
extent for an increase of accidents from falls of roof 
and sides and a diminution of those by explosions, as 
was the case in the year 1884. Gas does not issue 
into the workings at so great a rate, but the men do 
not get under new roof so fast. 

Though the greater the depth the greater is the 
weight and crush of the roof, which often necessitates 
frequent renewal of timber in permanent roads ; the 
writer has been unable to trace an increased number 
of accidents from falls of roof with an increase in the 
depth. 


>K Typical Mueseler or Marsaut. 





CHAPTER XIX. 


RULES FOR TIMBERING. 


From many years’ observation of the nature of 
accidents from falls of roof and sides the writer is 
of opinion that the only way to reduce the number of 
these accidents is to establish rules for timber setting 
at every colliery, prescribing definite maximum dis¬ 
tances and other matters in connection with timbering 
and packing. The only definite rule in connection 
with timbering in force in North Staffordshire is the 
one prescribing a maximum distance of six feet, which 
is not to be exceeded in setting sprags. This rule has 
worked admirably ; the accidents from falls of coal and 
stone which occurred so often formerly whilst the men 
were holing being now considerably reduced in the 
flatter mines. The writer rarely finds this distance 
exceeded. 

All rules in connection with timbering must be 
based on the method of working, the nature of the 




RULES FOR TIMBERING. 


95 


roof and the inclination and thickness of the seams. 
These differ considerably, even at the same colliery 
and at times in the same seam. 

These rules should be made by the manager, to 
the best of his ability, in conformity with the experience 
which he gains of the seam, and should be liable to 
alteration at any time in accordance with altered con¬ 
ditions or evidence of insufficiency. On the occurrence 
of an accident, measures of precaution which would 
have prevented it should be incorporated in the rules, 
and the frequent repetition of accidents from the same 
causes in other parts of the mine would thus be avoided. 
They should specify, as far as possible, the manner in 
which the timber is to be set; the number of rows of 
posts ; the maximum distance between these rows and 
between the posts, and the occasions when temporary 
posts are required whilst dressing the face. They 
should describe, if possible, the manner of drawing the 
back timber and state the time during which it should 
be drawn. Posting at or near slips and faults should 
be compulsory, and a post should not be removed at 
the face without another being previously set near it. 
Rules to this effect have lately been established at a 
few collieries, and found to work well. A few of these 
are appended to show the manner in which they were 
written out. 

RULES IN RED MINE. (Fig. 258). 

1. One row of posts to be kept between the face 
and the chocks. 


9G 


RULES FOR TIMBERING. 


2. The distance from one post to another not to 
exceed eight feet and from the posts to the face not to 
exceed six feet. 

3. If a post is knocked out it must be reset at once. 

4. Where packing material is scarce wooden chocks 
are to be placed along the roads at distances not 
exceeding four yards from each other. 

RULES IN HOLLY LANE. (Fig. 236). 

No portion of the roof is to be further than three 
feet from a support; the following to be considered as 
supports :— 

1. The centres of the posts. 

2. The unholed face. 

3. The edge of a close pack. 

4. The sides of a timber chock. 

RULES IN HARD MINE. (Fig. 247). 

There shall never be less than three rows of posts 
next the coal face, not more than 4' 6" apart. Inime- 
dately a web # of coal has been got out the back row of 
posts shall be knocked out and set between the two 
front rows, or next the coal face, according to the 
directions given by the manager, underviewer, or 
deputies. Each post to be set with a good lid next 
the roof. 

The stallmen shall carry on and maintain their 
stalls in a thoroughly safe and proper manner, and 
according to the directions given to them by the 


s|c Buttock. 



RULES FOR TIMBERING. 


97 


manager, underviewer and deputies. They shall build 
gate or jig packs three yards wide on each side, and 
waste packs every four yards. 

RULES FOR MOSS SEAM. (Fig. 217). 

In going in: 

1. Stretchers must be placed from the top posts to 
the face before holing. 

2. There shall be a row of posts on either side of 
the rails, not more than 4' 6" apart. The posts in each 
row shall not be more than 5' apart. 

3. Where slips are seen in the roof, or if it other¬ 
wise appears dangerous, bars shall be set against it at 
intervals of not more than 6'; and a post shall be set 
half way between the bars on either side of the road. 
The bars may be either stamped in the coal or sup¬ 
ported by a post, or both, at the face ; but they must 
in every case be supported by a post on the lower side. 

4. A temporary post, not more than 3' in advance 
of every bar (3), or set of posts (2), shall be set in 
every case in the middle of the road. It shall not be 
removed until (in 3) the next bar and the two posts on 
either side of the road or (in 2) the further set of posts 
have been set. 

In coming oul: 

5. There shall be three rows of posts on the high 
side of the rails, not more than 3' 6" apart. The posts 
in each row shall not be more than 5' apart. The 


98 


RULES FOR TIMBERING. 


topmost row (which supports the stretchers, in going 
in) shall not be more than i' from the face at the floor. 

6. Packs shall not be less than 3 yds. wide, and 
not more than 5 yds. apart. The edge of the pack 
shall not at any time be more than 12' from the face. 

7. There shall be lids on all the posts, not less 
than 18" long. 

The enforcement of such rules, which should be 
posted up in a conspicuous position, accessible to all 
workmen, would not only ensure regularity and 
discipline, but would indicate to fresh workmen the 
best and most approved manner of keeping themselves 
safe in seams in which they may perhaps have had no 
experience. 

Only maximum distances can, of course, be pre¬ 
scribed. It will frequently be necessary to set timber 
over and above the requirements of the rules. The 
erection of these additional supports must be left to 
the discretion and judgment of those immediately 
employed, who alone are cognisant of the momentary 
changes which the roof and sides present. They 
should, however, be subjected to a thorough system of 
supervision on the part of qualified firemen. 



CHAPTER XX. 


DIVISIONS OF THE NORTH 
STAFFORDSHIRE COALFIELD, 
WITH MAP. 


The following are the five divisions which a clear 
arrangement of the seams necessitates. 

1. Silverdale. The western division, which ex¬ 
tends to the large fault (90—100 yds.) running from 
Butt-lane, near Talke, by Bradwell Wood, east of 
Newcastle, and known as the High Carr fault. This 
division consequently includes the following collieries 
along its eastern boundary :— 

1. Bunkershill. 

2. Jam mage. 

3. High Carr (Williamson’s). 

4. Park House. 

2. Longton. The southern division, extending to 
the 90 yds. fault, running from east to west, south of 




100 


DIVISIONS OF COALFIELD. 


Hanley. This division consequently includes the 
following collieries on its northern boundary :— 

1. Ubberley. 

2. Holly Greaves. 

3. Berry Hill. 

3. Norton. The eastern division, lying between : 

1. The last-mentioned fault. 

2. The large fault forming the eastern limit 

of the Silverdale division. 

3. The sudden turn of the measures to the 

north in the Biddulph Valley, which is 
accompanied by dislocations, faults and 
roles and a change not only in the 
direction but in the amount of dip. 

This division consequently includes the following 
collieries :— 

At its southern boundary— 

1. Lillydale. 

2. North wood. 

3. Shelton. 

At its western boundary— 

1. Shelton. 

2. Grange. 

3. Brownhills (in part). 

4. Tileries (old pits). 

At its north-western boundary— 

1. Clanway. 

2. Turnhurst. 

3. Newchapel 


DIVISIONS OF COALFIELD. 


101 


4. Thursfield (in part). 

5. Wedgwood. 

6. Brown Lees. 

7. Black Bull. 

8. Bradley Green (in part). 

9. Yew Tree. 

10. Two small collieries adjoining, 

4. Kidsgrove. The northern division ; bounded to 
the west by the High Carr fault, and to the east by 
the bend formed by the sudden turn of the measures 
which forms the north-western boundary of the 
Norton division. It consequently includes the follow¬ 
ing collieries:— 

At its western boundary— 

1. Woodshutts. 

2. Hollinswood. 

3. Mitchells Wood. 

4. High Carr Co. 

Along its south-eastern boundary— 

1. Brownhills (in part). 

2. Tileries (new pits). 

3. Chatterley. 

4. Tunstall. 

5. Goldenhill. 

6. Trubshaw. 

7. Thursfield (in part). 

8 . Stone Trough. 

9. Tower Hill. 

10. Bradley Green (in part). 

5. CllEADLE AND IPSTONES. 








































MAP OK THE 



NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE 
COALFIELD. 


Newer Formations 
Older do. 

(hammer and undue) Collie} 

Name of Colliery 

Name of Railway Station 

— Railway 
Station 

- - Fault 
























































NAMES OF 


SILVERDALE DISTRICT 


WORKABLE SEAMS IN THE FOUR DISTRICTS PLACED 
_ IN APPROXIMATE juxtaposition. 

LONGTON DISTRICT 


NORTON DISTRICT 


KIDSGROVE DISTRICT 


Workable Seams 


Approximate 
distance 
between the 
seams in 
yards 




Workable Seams 


Approximate 
distance 
between the 
seams in 
yards 


WO R KABLE S EAMS 


CO 

g $ 


G 

a o 

TO ^ 


Black band Ironstone 
do. 
do. 


‘ g § Red Shagg 
Red Mine 


5 k Bassey Mine do. 

>k Peacock Coal 
>k Spencroft Coal 
Black Bass Ironstone 
Cannel Mine do. 
Cannel Mine Coal 

<3 Little Mine Coal 
o *Gubbin Ironstone 
e g Sheath Mine do. 

J 3 g Blacks tone do. 
jg ' 1-1 >k Rusty Mine do. 

O s Chalky do. do. 

S 

Little Mine do. 

New Mine do. 




bJ 5 

1 m 

rt 


^ 5 k Brown Mine Coal 
( Brown Mine Ironstone 


* Thick Band 
Gold Mine 


do. 

do. 


skAsh or Rowhurst Coal 
Burn wood Ironstone 
5 k Burnwood Coal 
* Tw ist Coal 


U. IA 

. 5-3 

G O 
TO U 


Single Four Feet Coal 
Single Twp Feet Coal 
« Single Five Feet Coal 
6 

5 Ragman Coal 

Rough Seven Feet Coal 
Hams Coal 
Ten Feet Coal 
Top Two Row Ironstone 
Top Two Row Coal 
Bottom Two Row Coal 


12—13 
19—22 

40 

40 

42 

26 

o 

o 

23 

8 

7 

o 

14 

19 

n 


o 

40 

21 

20 

IS 

o 

9 

125 


Approximate 
distance 
between the 
seams in 
yards 


Bassey Mine Ironstone 
: Peacock Coal 
Spencroft Coal 


Great Row Coal 
Cannel Row Coal 
^Deep Mine Ironstone 


■r. 


.S is 

P C 

5 ^ 


Seven Feel Banbury Coal 
Eight Feet Banbury Coal 
Bullhurst Coal 


14 

9 

24 

7 

4 

74 

15 

o 

13 


102 

37 

5 i 


Chalky Mine Ironstone 
Ragmine do. 


Knowles Coal 
Knowles Ironstone 


Rider Coal 
Ash Coal 

Little Mine Ironstone 
Little Mine Coal 
Twist or Gin Mine Coal 

Moss Coal 

. Yard Coal 

Birches Coal 

Ten Feet Coal 

Bowling Alley Coal 
Holly Lane Coal 
Hard Mine Coal A 
New Mine Coal B 
Little Mine Coal 
Banbury Coal 
Cockshead Coal 
Bullhurst Coal 
Winpenny Coal 


26- 


20 

7 

27 

14 
60 
20 

58 

28 

44 

41 

15 

-40 

o 

20 


Half-yards Ironstone 
Red Shagg do. 

Red M ine do. 

( Coal 

IIOO Cannel ] Ironstone 
f Marl 

Bassey Mine Ironstone 
Peacock Coal K 
Spencroft Coal L 

Gubbin orCannel Minelr. 
Great Row Coal 
Cannel RowIronstoneC 
Cannel Row Coal D 

Pennystone Ironstone 


20 

4 i 

53 

30 
9—17 
21- 


Workable Seams 


16- 


-36 

-19 


O—IX 

II—13 
o 

40 


} 


67—69 

28—33 

80—85 

33—38 

23 

21 

12—15 
47 
38 
36 
60 
23 


>k Chalky Ironstone 
5 k Chalky Coal 
New Chalky Ironstone 

Bungilow Coal 
Lady Coal 
Winghay Coal 
Winghay Ironstone E 
Big Mine Coal 
Chance Band Ironstone 
Brown Mine do. 
Rider Coal 
Rowhurst Coal 
Burnwood Ironstone O 
Burnwood Coal 
Twist Coal 
5k Birchenwood Coal 
Mossfield Coal 

Yard Coal 


Ragman Coal 
Old Whitfield Coal 
Stoney Eight Feet Coal F 
Ten Feet Coal 

Bowling Alley Coal G 
Holly Lane Coal 
Hard Mine Coal 


So 

1 

15 


55 
o—2 
6-7 


Half-yards Ironstone 
Red Shagg do. 

Red Mine do. 

>R Oil Shale 

Bassey Mine do. 

* Peacock Coal 
>k Spencroft Coal 


sk Great Row Coal 
sk Cannel Row Coal 

5 k Blackstone Ironstone 
5 k Chalky Ironstone 
5 k Little Mine Ironstone 


Winghay Coal 
5 k Winghay Ironstone 


Approximate | 
distance 
between the | 
seams in 
yards 


20—21 
18—25 

76 


5k Big Mine Ironstone 
5 k Brown Mine do. 

Green Lane Two Row Coal 34 

27 

New Mine Ironstone 


13 

24 

26 


IO 


25 


43 


16 

13 

19 

19 


5 k Pottery Coal 


20 


10S 


Banbury Coal // 
Cockshead Coal J 
sk Bullhurst Coal 


47 

12 

34 

121 

63 

120 


>k Birchenwood Coal 
sk Little Row Coal 
5 k Yard Coal 
>kFour Feet Coal 
* Ragman Coal 
Rough Seven Feet Coal 
Stoney Eight Feet Coal 3 1 P, 
Ten Feet Coal 2 4 ~ 3 8 

31—65 

1 woRowor BigRowCoal 
Bottom Two Row Coal M 2 
sk Bowling Alley Coal N ^ 


13 

12 

22 

6 

12 


12 

40 


85—110 

Seven Feet Banbury H 
Eight Feet Banbury J 2 ~ l 4 ° 

Bullhurst Coal 93 

5 k Winpenny Coal 


22 


CHEADLE AND IPSTONES 
DISTRICT 


Workable Seams 

Approximate 
distance between 

the seams in 


yards 


Two Yard Coal 
*Yard Coal 
sk Letley Coal 
5 |t Four Feet Coal 
Cobble Coal 
Woodhead Coal 
* Stinking Coal 

Red Hydrate Ironstone 
(Haematite) 


are not being worked at present. 
A also called Sparrow Butts. 

/>’ „ ,, Stinkers. 

C „ ,, Half-yards. 

D „ „ Little Row. 

E „ „ Rusty Mine. 

F ,, ,, Bellringers. 

G ,, ,, Magpie. 


in places. 


H also called Kroggery or Frogrow. 
J ,, ,, Newpool. 

K miscalled Spencroft ) 

L ,, Ten Feet ) 

M also called Little Row. 

N properly Hard Mine. 

O includes New Mine Ironstone. 


24—30 


































































































TABLE OF INCLINE MEASURES. 


No. of 
Degrees 


3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 
12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 
21 
22 

23 

24 

2 5 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 

36 

37 

38 

39 

40 

41 

42 

43 

44 

45 


Inclination 
per yard in 
inches 

•63 

I - 26 

1- 88 

2 - 5 1 

3- i5 
378 • 

4- 42 , 
5'o6 
57 ° • 

6 - 34 • 

6 99 . 

7- 65 • 

8- 31 . 

8- 97 . 

9- 64 . 

10- 32 . 

II'OO . 

11- 69 • 

12- 39 • 

13- 10 . 
13-82 . 
i 4\54 • 

15- 27 . 

l6"02 

16- 78 . 

17- 56 • 

18- 34 . 

1 9 - I 4 . 

1995 • 

20- 78 . 

21- 62 . 

22- 49 • 

23- 37 ■ 

24- 28 . 
25 20 . 

26- 15 . 

27- 12 

28- 12 . 

29- 14 .. 
3021 . 

31- 29 

32- 41 .. 

33- 56 - 

34- 76 . 

36-00 .. 


One in 

57-29 

2863 

19-09 

14-29 

II-42 

9-5 1 
8-14 
7*i 1 
6-31 
5-67 
5' r 4 

4-70 

4-33 

4-01 

3-73 
3 H 8 
3-27 
3"° 7 
2-90 
274 
2 

2-47 
2-35 
224 
2-14 
2-05 
I 96 

i-88 

r8o 

173 

i-66 

1 -6o 
1'54 
1 48 
1-42 
1*37 
1-32 
1-28 
1-23 

119 

ri 5 
111 
1 07 
1-03 

I’OO 





























































































SCALE OF FIGURES. 


1. From Figs, i—284. 

Plans : 8 yards to 1 inch. 
Sections : 44 inches to 1 inch.* 

2. From Figs. 285—300. 

44 inches to 1 inch.* 

3. Fig. 301. 

11 inches to 1 inch. 


INDEX OF COLOURS. 

Full Thickness 

Coal. 

Part 

V. 

Ironstone. 

Sandstone. 

Rocklin ds. 

Conglomerate. 

Shale. 

Clay. 



>K The divisions of this scale are as on the 2 chains to 1 inch scale. 






















SILVERDALE DISTRICT. 


FIGS, i —101. 



BLACKBAND IRONSTONE. 



FIG. i. 


Figs, i and 2. Plan and Section S. E. Longwall with as long faces as possible. 
Gob almost entirely packed with dirt and coal. Joints pretty regular from 3'—4' 
apart run through roof, hence direction of face of drift (page 13). Westwards the 
stone has a uniform thickness of 16" and the coal of 20"—21", the roof above the 
shale is hard and gritty. 



FIG. 2. 





























BLACKBAND IRONSTONE 



Figs. 3 and 4 Plan and Section E. 
Longwall in steps in a level direction. 
Two or three steps are worked at a 
time, beginning at the bottom. They 
are driven from 40—50 yds. on either 
side the jig-dip ; the latter being driven 
about too yds., but a length at a time, 
as needed. Almost all the gob-road 
timber is recovered. Stays, small pieces 
of wood, are used in combination with 
posts and round slabs, to support the 
lower sides of the packs. Joints very 
distinct, cut each other out. Eastwards, 
the stone thins out to 6" over a large 
area, and has been known to thin out 
altogether. 



Section AB. 


Note.— The meridian shewn on 
all the plans is the magnetic meridian. 


aW c \ 

V s ' t . ^ 

V 


FIG. 4. 









RED SHAGG IRONSTONE. 



Figs. 5 and 6 . Plan and Section 
S.E. Bank and Pillar, with 30—40 yds. 
banks and about 8—20 yds. pillars. The 
face is kept slightly off the joints as the 
roof then weights less readily. Dressings 
are from 4' 6 " —6' according to the 
joints ; two being often coupled to 
gether. The stone is all in one band 
when thin ; it lies in two bands when 
thicker than a yard. Where the stone is 
thin the grits are taken down and used 
for packing, the roof above being strong. 
Two sprags are set where the stone is 
affected by the last shot. About half 
the number of chocks are recovered. 

The main joints run very regularly 
from 2'—3' apart; they occasionally send 
offshoots to the next joint. The cross 
joints are not quite so regular and run 
from 3'—6' apart. 


FIG. 5. 


Shale 



Strong 


Section 4 


FIG. 6. 














RED SHAGG IRONSTONE. 



Figs. 7 and 8. Plan and Section W. 
Modified bank and pillar. The latter are 
20 x 30 yds. The grits are left up and 
this insures a very strong roof so that no 
timber is required at the face or in the 
sirait workings which are five yards wide 
at the foot. Gob almost completely 
packed. Chocks are built where the 
roof is at all loose. Joints very straight, 
from 6"—18"apart; occasionally slightly 
open and contain Calcic Carbonates. 
There are cross joints in places. 


Hard dense Clay 


FIG. 8. 


Section AB 














RED SHAGG 



Figs. 9 and io. Plan and Section N. of last Figs. Board and pillar. The 
latter are about 25 x 30 yds, and are worked off in slices. A small coal pillar 18" 
square (spurn) is always left at the loose end (C) whilst holing. It is afterwards 
broken up from a distance by means of a pointed iron rod 9ft. long. These spurns 
are said to be 5—6 times more efficient than a sprag at a loose end. Main joints 
run 2'—4' apart, and cross joints 18" to 2' ; they often set off or ride over when 
passing from one band to another. Where the pillars have stood a long while and 
beeh subjected to weight by proximity to the gob, the joints open greatly and 
secondary planes of division of very small extent appear between the joints and 
branching from them. They are called pincracks, and occur specially in the top 
stone. Old pillars are consequently easier to work off than new ones, but this 
method entails more timber and is more dangerous than the other methods. The 
grits are taken down and leave a clod roof which is full of slips and very 
treacherous. 


Grits w 



Section AB 


FIG. 10. 


Fig. 10 illustrates a fatal accident which occurred through the fall of a large 
piece of this clod from between 2 slips. The collier started holing without first 
setting a post close behind him, the last post being about 6ft. from the face. 








































RED SHAGG. 



Figs, ii and 12. Plan and Section N. of last Figs. Lancashire method. Roof 
supported by “ Riflemen ” made of pieces of Cinders and Stone which are some¬ 
times recovered. Main joints very regular about 3ft. apart. The floor lifts much. 



FIG. 12. 


Section A B 
























RED MINE. 

A carbonaceous band of woody fibre called Flannels ” lies on the top of the 
stone throughout, the coalfield. 



Figs. 13 and 14. Plan and 
Section S. E. (Near Figs. 5 
and 6). Bank and pillar. A 
waste is formed in the centre 
of the gob which eases the 
weight” in the roads. 


FIG. 13 



FIG. i4. 


Section AB 













RED MINE. 



Figs. 15 and 16. Plan and Section. N. of last Figs. Worked as in Figs. 
9 and io. 


wm »/<22 ,s 


hale 



7/ 77 7 PT> 
Clay (Glttm) 

Section AB 


plating 4 

3 ” 


TopSto** 

7! o 


M iddU J;, 




FIG. 16. 
















RED MINE. 


Hard siliceous Shale^ 


FIG. 18 


„as$ 3'—^ 

sent in places) 





FIG. 17. 


Section AB 


Fig. 17. Section N. of last Figs. 


Figs. 18, 1 9 and 20. Plan, Section 
and Elevation N Worked as in Figs. 
11 and 12. 



mrnmmmm .: 


Bands oj 
Bass (s' Coal 


'//////White Piri 


Section AB 


Elevation in line Cl) 


FIG. 19. 








































































BLACK BASS IRONSTONE. 





FIG. 21. 


Fig. 21. Section C. Worked a considerable time after the Cannel 
Mine Ironstone which underlies it. (Fig. 26). Longwalt, drifts 7 yds. 
on each side of sladder. Gob entirely packed, some bass being sent 
out. The roof is broken where the Cannel Mine gob has not been well 
packed. Little timber is otherwise set. A footlid is placed under 
sprags where the Cannel mine pinning is not solid. 











CANNEL MINE IRONSTONE AND COAL, 

(great row coal). 

The former is frequently worked in conjunction with the latter. 


Figs. 22, 23 and 24. Plan and 
Sections S. Lancashire method. A 
small rib of coal is left against the 
gob above ; it is tightened by the 
lifting action of the floor ; the incli¬ 
nation of the seap being small the gob 
debris has no tendency to push it in. 
Cleat distinct. Slips from 3'—6', but 
further in places ; from 13°—20° NW. 
Only a few run through into the Cannel, 
and some bend over on entering it, but 
not for any distance. (Fig. 24). A 
collier was killed whilst pulling down 


*34 






the Cannel in a dip S ft. in width. The Cannel had begun to work and was 
unsafe. It came off a slip on either side of the dip. The slips were known 
to be in the coal, but not supposed to run into the Cannel. The Cannel 
Mine Stone Bands lie 18' above the top coal. They are worked a long time 
after the coal has been got. Though the intervening strata contain numer 
ous small bands, those lying between the Grits and the Blue Band, which 
are about 7' apart, are alone worked. Further South the Cannel dwindles 
down to 2" and the bottom coal thickens. South westwards the top coal is 
18" thick and very hard and tough, and the bottom coal 5' thick, and they 
are separated by a bed of Cannel coal 6" thick. 












































CANNEL MINE IRONSTONE AND COAL. 


Black Ba ss 2' 3" (see Fig. 21) 
Grits (Top Stone) 



Whet Stone 


Bine Band 


Figs. 25 and 26. Plan and Section N. 
of last Figs. Coal worked by Lancashire 
method. It is drifted back 18—20 yds. 
according to the fall of the measures. 
The old gob above is then slipped and 
packed under the top coal (unless a fall 
has taken place preventing it). The 
stone measures are then turned over ; the 
bottom half in going in and the top half 
in coming back. A sladder is formed 
with iron plates, down which the stone 
is thrown. Hardly any timber is used 
in the stone work. Cleat distinct. Slips 
2—4 yds. apart. Runners not frequent. 
Joints : in Cannel very distinct, in stone 
bands irregular, but in the same direc¬ 
tion. The bands of stone are very 
regular. 

Northwards the Cannels thin down 
to 2' 6" 








.8 


03; 


3 




£ 



Top Coal 

2' 6" 

( mostly 
lost in 
5 working ) 




Top Cannel {left) 



x. 3 'A 



Highly bituminous Cannel 
{used for calcining) 


iiMMPMW 


Hard Fireclay 



Gritty Icon Stone 


4 — 


Section A B 


FIG. 26. 

















































































Fig. 27. Section of coal E. of 
last Figs. Worked alone ; by the bank 
and pillar method. The roof is very 
strong, and little timber is used. Strait 
places are driven 5 yds. wide, without 
any timber. The Cannel comes down 
in large bodies, which pests cannoi 
support. Chocks are built when a 
weight is expected. Cleat 28 C ' NW. 
Slips numerous in places NW., but 
bearing irregular. 


Top Coal 

V°" 


very hardf 

cr YOOJ 



Figs. 28 and 29. Plan and Section N. of last Figs. The bottom coal 
is worked first by longwall, with regular packs at intervals; the Cannel, top 
coal and gubbin are then dropped in the wastes and picked out. The gubbin 
only is then worked over the packs. The Cannel roof is very strong, and 
hardly any props are set. Cleat not distinct. Slips regularly every 4 ft., 
through bottom coal, Cannel and bass, but not through fop coal, which is 
very tough, and lies in layers. 



CO * 1 * 1 


FIG. 27. 



FIG. 29. 


LITTLE MINE COAL (LITTLE ROW COAL) 




Figs. 30 and 31. Plan and Section C. 
Lancashire method. The roof is very 
heavy'; it hangs together in a body and 
comes down suddenly in large pieces. 
Cleat very distinct. Slips 13 NW. 
from 3'—4' apart and further in places, 
through the whole seam. Runners not 
frequent ; do not always run through 
tops and middles. 

A pillar is occasionally left to suppori 
the loof; it is, however,-sometimes partly 
recovered after securing the side by a 
stretcher, as shewn. 


Bass 


Hard 

Fireclay 

•with 

Nodule: 







































LITTLE MINE COAL. 



Fig. 31A. Section C, illustrating the occurrence of a fatal accident. The 
Top Coal, which is taken down behind the Middle and Bottom Coals, was sup¬ 
ported up the drift by three rows of posts. There were from five to six. posts 
in each row. Two colliers were engaged taking up dirt and replacing the rails, 
preparatory to cutting down the Top Coals. They had cut the Top Coals down 
to 10" at the lower side of the heading, to enable them to load the tub, when 
they heard a l 'goth, and about 20 tons of coal fell, reeling out about 12 posts 
and killing one of the colliers. 


Much surface water had reached the workings, making the roof heavy and 
the floor very soft. The posts were set square with the dip and were therefore 
not in a position to resist one of the resultants of the force of gravitation, which 
came into operation when the Top Coals were cut at the lower side of the 
heading. The softness of the floor made the posts give way and reel out more 
easily. Had the posts been stamped to a hard floor, and set in accordance with 
the table on page 50, the accident could not have occurred. A large piece of 
roof, A, fell soon afterwards. 


FIG. 31A. 











LITTLE MINE COAL. 



Figs. 32 and 33. Plan and Section further South. Worked as above. 
Cleat distinct and slips frequent. 



Section AB 


FIG. 33. 










































LITTLE ROW COAL. 



FIG. 34 - 


Fig- 34 - Section SW. Ten tons of roof fell over an area of 20 square 
yards in an open place intended for a horse gin, near a dip. Seven posts, with 
stretchers and bars which were supporting it were knocked down ; four men 
were injured, but none fatally. 



Img. 34A Section S. Worked by longwall, with sladders from 
20—30 yds. apart. 














SHEATH MINE IRONSTONE. 



FIG, 3S . 


Figs. 35 and 36. Plan and Section S. Drifts are 120 yards long. The 
roof being very strong no timber is set unless the drifts are exceptionally 
wide. The stone works itself off without holing, and only has to be turned 
over and picked. 

The joints in stone bands run 3"—6" apart; those in the bass do not 
run any distance. 



Section AB 














































CHALKY MINE IRONSTONE. 



Figs. 37 and 38. Plan and Section C. Shewing beginning of a longwall 
drift from the level without a pillar being left. The lower side of the pack is 
supported by thick posts (D) 9" thick, well stamped, 12". Temporary posts (C) are 
set to throw the weight on to the pack, but are eventually removed. The two 
upper bands are left up at starting to reduce the space to Ire packed. The full 
thickness is ripped down about 7 ft. or 8 ft. from the level. Joints in stone not 
very parallel. Slips in coal very distinct, about 6 ft. apart. 



FIG. 38. 


LITTLE MINE IRONSTONE. 



FIG. 39. 


Figs. 39 and 40. Plan and Section C. Longwall. Main joints, 6" and 
more apart, do not run through roof and bass. 



FIG. 40. 








NEW MINE IRONSTONE. 



Figs. 41 and 42. Plan and Section C. No posts are set. Joints do 
not run very parallel. They run in the bass bands in the same direction as 
in the stones. 



FIG. 42. 






















































BROWN MINE IRONSTONE. 


b 



Figs. 43, 44 and 45. Plan and 
Sections C. The joints pass through 
all the stone and bass bands. 









Section AB 


FIG. 44. 



Fig- 44 represents the place in 
which a fatal accident occurred. (See 
page 45 ). 


Section CD 


FIG. 45- 

















































































BROWN MINE. 



FIG. 46. 


Fig. 46. Section SW. Tapering wooden wedges (gibs or block sprags), 
well hammered in, are used instead of sprags. The gob is entirely packed, 
sa that the coal above is not injured. It forms a very good roof, and requires 
no timber. The stone is brought to the sladders in wheelbarrows. 










GOLD MINE IRONSTONE. 



Figs. 47 and 48. Plan and Section 
SW. Longwall, from pillars, which 
ensures better ventilation. Joints in 
stone bands very near to one another, 
mostly 8o° NW and 47 0 NE, but in 
places 41 0 NW and 52 0 NE. 


FIG. 47. 


The bass contains numerous highly - 
polished slips, of small extent. The 
gob is closely packed, some bass 
having to be sent out. The roof is 
consequently well supported, and 
requires no timber. 



Section AB 


FIG. 48. 







SINGLE FOUR FEET COAL (BIRCHENWOOD;. 


a, 



Figs. 49 and 50. Plan and Section E. The roof is so bad that as little 
of it is laid bare at a time as is possible, and the packs are kept close to the 
face, and built as soon as there is room for them. The drifts are 20 yards 
on each side the jig, and the face is advanced towards it from either side. 
It is sometimes worked as in Fig. 60. Cleat distinct. Slips : NE-34°, very 
frequent; from 6"—3' apart; do not run into roof. NYV -41 °, occasional 
and run into roof. 



FIG. 50. 






















































\ 







































SINGLE FOUR FEET COAL. 



FIG. 51. 


Figs. 51 and 5 2 Plan and Section C. The roof necessitaes close 
timbering. C represents posts laid across to form a jetty, and D posts to 
stand on whilst working Cleat very distinct; cleat planes from % to i inch 
apart in the Cannel coal, and much oftener in the coal. There are numerous 
floors in the coal. 



FIG. 52. 


















SINGLE FOUR FEET COAL. 



Fig- 53 - Section W. Shews the result of atmospheric action, on the 
loose shale, and how it is guarded against. The loose shale is thinner, and 
the coal thickens to 6 ft. in places. 


Stronger Shale 



Fig. 54. Section of a main road SW. The inclination is slight. 1 he 
seam is worked by longwall with regularly formed packs; but the wastes 
are mostly filled. The holing is done in the loose shale lying above the coal. 
















































































































































SINGLE TWO FEET COAL. 



Figs. 55 and 56. Plan and Section 
S. The roof is good and smooth 
when first exposed, but soon peels off 
irregularly. Cleat distinct. Slips 
frequent, almost ever}' yard ; they 






















SINGLE FIVE FEET COAL. 



FIG. 57. 


Figs. 57 and 58. Plan and Section S. The roof is good, but full of 
small polished slips. Cleat distinct. Slips frequent ; they run through the 
loose shale, but not into the roof. 



FfG. 58. 










SINGLE FIVE FEET COAL. 



FIG. 59. 


\° 


Fig- 59- Section Northward. Longwall. Slips 20 ° NW, from i'—3' 
apart, do not run into roof. Cleat in same direction as slips, and pretty 
distinct. 



FIG. 60. 


Fig. 60. Plan C. The coal is slightly thinner, and the inclination less 
than in Fig. 59. Longwall, with 20 yds. drifts on each side the jig. Cleat 
distinct. Slips, NW-45 0 , run into the roof; they are from 18"— 2 ' apart. 
Slips, NE-47. 0 , which run parallel to the cleat, are pretty frequent ; but do 
not mn into the roof. 








SINGLE FIVE FEET COAL. 



Fig. 61. Section W. Lancashire 
method as “ Rearer.” Roof very bad, 
necessitates timbering. 


FIG. 61. 



Fig. 62. Section SVV. Same 
method of working. Roof very good ; 
no timber set in drifts. Further SW 
the inclination is less ; the loose bass 
is 12" thick, the coal 4 9". The roof 
is good and the floor very hard. It is 
worked by the Lancashire method. 


FIG. 62 










FIG. 63. 


Fig. 63. Section W. The thiee seams are worked together. Heads are 
driven in the Seven Feet and in the Ragman coal, with occasional small holes 
through the Pous for ventilation. They are driven to the boundary (300 yds.) at 
different levels, leaving pillars 10 yds. thick. A 2 yds. rib is left; the rest of the 
pillars are drifted back, beginning at the higher levels. As many as four levels 
are drifted back together; but generally two. The Hams and Seven Feet are 
drifted back together; no timber whatever is set; the gob occasionally shoots 
down, after which a new breadth is started. The Ragman is got down partly 
from its own level, and partly, when the Pous falls, before the gob shoots down, 
from the Seven Feet level. About one-third of the Ragman is left behind ; very 
little of the other seams, except the ribs which give way when the gob shoots down. 












ragman, rough seven feet and hams coal. 


To the South-West the inclination is about 8°; the Hams is 5' thick, other¬ 
wise the section does not change materially. The three seams are worked together, 
by the Lancashire method. The headings are driven 9' wide in the Hams and 
Yardley; from 10—12 yards apart. Drifting is begun in the Hams, the Bottom 
Seven Feet is then either shot down or it falls on drawing the posts. The Top 
Seven Feet is propped up to retard its breakage and the consequent slipping of the 
gob until the Hams face is sufficiently forward. On the Top Seven Feet Posts 
being drawn the Pous comes down, the men step on to it and get what Ragman 
they can (about one-third). The Ragman roof is very strong, and stands well. 

To the South the inclination is from 34° to 42 0 ; the Ragman is from 4' 6" 
to 5' thick ; the Pous is 10' thick and very loose; the Yardley is 4' o" thick and the 
Hams 4' 6". The three seams are worked conjointly. Headings are driven in the 
Seven Feet Coal, as in the Lancashire method of working, on either side the jig. 
Cruts are driven from each of these headings to the Hams Coal every 12 yds., 
beginning 12 yds. from the boundary, and driving them as required. A heading is 
driven in the Hams Coal from the first crut to the boundary, a distance of 12 yds., 
and the coal drifted out that distance with a 12 yds. face; the timber is then 
drawn and the Yardley falls. The crut is then abandoned, and the Bottom Seven 
Feet Coal, which meanwhile subsides, is got at and removed from the Seven Feet 
heading, beginning at the far end and posting to the Top Seven Feet Coal. The 
latter is afterwards dropped in short pieces, posts being set to the Pous. The conse¬ 
quent subsidence or “ swag ” of the overlying Ragman Coal, which is immediately 
perceived in the upper level, greatly assists its extraction. A separate heading is 
driven in the Ragman Coal from a crut leading into the Seven Feet heading close to 
the jig. As soon as the first drifts are completed in the Hams and Seven Feet 
Coals, new drifts are started 12 yds. back in the same way. 

This method of working these three seams is frequently slightly modified, 
especially where the Yardley is 6' and the Pous 15' thick, as it is in places. Some 
of the Top Seven Feet and Ragman Coals are often left in. 

To the North the Seven Feet Coal divides into two seams separated by 6 ' of 
shale. The top part is worked in conjunction with the Ragman. The Hams lies 
17 yards below, and is worked separately : 


RAGMAN AND TOP SEVEN FEET COAL. 



FIG. 64. 


RAGMAN AND TOP SEVEN FEET COAL. 


Figs. 64 and 65. Plan and Section North. The drifts extend 20 yards on 
each side the jig. The Seven Feet Coal is first drifted back in 7 or 8 yds. breadths 
from each side to the jig, the Pous forming the roof. The packs are built as soon 
as possible. In going in again about 6' of coal is removed to form the new road. 
The Ragman is got from the new level in going in. That which falls with the Pous 
only requires picking (Fig. 65), the remainder is worked by turning the rails into 
the wastes about 7 yds. The coal is also worked off all but the jig packs. 

Another way in which these two seams have been worked is by first taking the 
Ragman Coal out 4 yds. in advance to the rise, and removing the Pous overnight, 
when the Seven Feet Coal is afterwards found broken up into large coal, and only 
requires to be loaded. This is advantageous, as it prevents small coal being 
formed, which would heat the gob. 

The Seven Feet Coal is good and hard. It contains a few hard grey bands 
in the middle of the seam ; these are impregnated with lumps and grains of pyrites. 
The cleat is distinct and slips frequent. 



Section BA 















HAMS COAL. 



FIG. 66. 


Fig. 66 and 67. Plan and Section North. Worked in 20 yds. drifts 
side the jig. Cleat very distinct. Slips frequent. 



Towards the centre the Ragman and Hams Coal only are worked 
independently of each other : 


on each 


nd this 







RAGMAN COAL. 



FIG. 68. 


FIG. 69. 


Section AB 


Figs. 68 and 69. Plan and Section 
Centre. Longwall ; two falls are got 
from the same landing. Slips are fre¬ 
quent, but they change their bearing 
in places from 32° NW to 12 0 NW. 
The cleat is not distinct. The slips lap 
over in passing into the Cannel Bass. 



Fig. 70. Section Centre. Worked like Ragman. Slips occur n°NW and 
24 0 NW in different places, and dip NE. 
















TEN FEET COAL. 



Roof 

jtti tiding 


Figs. 71. 72, 73. Plans and Section 
S. Lancashire method. Fig. 71 is a 
“face-way drift ” and Fig. 72, a “ back- 
way drift,” worked from a fast end at 
intervals. Cleat distinct. Slips: very 
frequent, and all run into the roof. 
Runners : small faults in the direction 
of the cleat, throwing both coal and 
roof slightly up on the gob side above. 
They run like the cleat at right angles 
to the plane of stratification. It is 
supposed that they are due to the 
pulling action of the roof over the gob 
above, and are only breaks, which, 
owing to the grinding action to which 
they have been exposed, present rather 
smooth surfaces. The roof is very 
strong. 


Section AB 


FIG. 73 - 

























. 6o' 


TEN FEET COAL. 



Figs. 73A. and 73B. Plan and 
Section of a drift near Fig. 73, illus¬ 
trating a fatal accident which occurred 
to the fireman during his examination, 
after he had fired a shot higher up the 
drift. The drift had reached an old 
thurling, in which the Top Coal was 
supported by a post P, and two 
stretchers or sprags, such as S'. The 
fireman was standing near the tub, 
and the collier was stamping a hole, 
preparatory to drilling it, for the 
purpose of blowing the Top Coal 
down, when five tons of it fell off a 
slip towards the drift, reeling out the 
post and the two stretchers. Had 
another post been set under the Top 
Coal in the thurling, or a sprag D set 
against the Top Coal the accident 
would have been prevented. 


Section AB 


FIG. 73A. 


FIG. 73B. 
























TEN FEET COAL. 



74 - 


Fig. 74. Plan of ‘'Back-way Drift” C Section nearly the same as in Fig. 73. 
Roof fairly good. Cleat pretty distinct, 18 0 NE and occasionally nearly at right 
angles to this direction. Slips occur frequently, and only run through a 4' layer of 
strong black bass which forms the roof. Slips called “Devil’s toes” occur in 
places ; sometimes as small 1 inch faults, which at times stand a little off when 
entering the roof. They make the get of the coal more difficult in “ strait places ” 
when working back way to them. 

SW, The cleat is very distinct, and runs 38° NW. Slips frequent: run 18° NW 

W. The coal contains a half inch dirt band, 20 inches from the top; the 
inferior coal at the bottom, called “stools’’are left in all “strait” work, as the 
floor is very soft. 


TOP TWO ROW IRONSTONE. 


yOlC> 


5 , , 

fchan^ W*' 



Fig. 74A. Section S. The stone is worked in longwall drifts, with jigs 
80 yards apart. The gob is entirely packed. One of dirt is sent out to two of 
stone. Water is thrown on to the face, and loosens it considerably. 















TOP TWO ROW COAL. 



FIG. 75 - 


Figs, 75 and 76, Plan and Section SE of last Figs. The ironstone bands in 
the roof are sometimes worked simultaneously with the coal, a few yards behind it. 
The coal is haid and extremely dusty. It sticks to the roof, and would require to 
be blasted if underholed. This is dangerous, owing to the quantity of dust present. 
Consequently holing is dene at the top, which enables powder to be dispensed with, 
but increases the dust. Cleat not distinct. Slips: from f to 1 yard apart. 



FIG. 76. 


SW. The thickness of the seam is the same, but there are 8" of Cannel Coal 
at the bottom. The roof is not good. 

N. The coal lies on 10" of carbonaceous shale, in which the holing is done. 
There is a band of stone, which varies in thickness 10" above the coal. The bass 
above it contains numerous fossils. 

















BOTTOM TWO ROW COAL. 



Fig. 77. Section N. Cleat irregular. The roof is strong, but contains slips, 
through disregard of one of which an accident occurred to a collier. 



Fig 78 Section of heading S. Lancashire method, as in Fig. 75, except 
hat headings are driven four yds. wide, and the floor taken up at the high side for 
•00m the dirt so taken up being packed at the lower side. Slips frequent, pretty 
much as in Fig 7?. Holing is done in the pricking, generally to a slip, but no 
Treat distance, as the coal comes off well, and the men keep getting it off. The 
pricking is very hard in places, so that the coal has to be holed at the top, and it is 
then levered up with a pick. Powder is seldom used in drifts; it is used in 
“strait ” work and for blowing up the floor. The seam is dusty. 



















SEVEN FEET BANBURY COAL. 



Figs. 79 and 80. Plan and Section 
S. Cleat distinct. Slips very frequent 
in places ; they pass through the black 
bass, and occasionally through the 18" 
bass. The last row of posts in the 
preceding drift is left to protect the 
men when finishing the drift; also the 
gob posts A. 


Section DC 


FIG. 79. 


FIG. 80. 























FIG. 82. 


Fig. 82. Section further North. The bass is thicker and full of slips 
Mp Ce r a treacherous roof. The cleat is pretty distinct. Slips, 

^ c jjPP' n g East 6°°, yery frequent. Dips and levels are often driven 
e D 5 )> and the bass packed to one side'as it falls. The sandstone roof 
is very strong. 


FIG. 83. 


FIG. 84. 


Fig. 84. Section of horse road, shewing 
mode of timbering after the bass has fallen. 


FEET BANBURY COAL. _ L . 

Smooth, division 
Bass 


Fig. 83. Section of face of “back-way” heading, near last Fig., illus¬ 
trating an accident. 

The heading was 5 yds. wide ; there was a row of posts on either 
side of the rails, and these were laid in the centre. The posts in each 
row we.e from 3'—4' apart; the last post in the lower row was close 
to the face. The coal was cut a distance of 4' at the high side. 

The place had stood two or three days. The collier, who was 
very deaf, was pulling off some coal in front when a piece 
2' thick came off a slip the whole width of the face. It 
fell on to the collier, but the post which was knocked 
down at the same time saved him, and enabled his 
mates to extricate him. 


The collier should have pulled the coals 
down from the high side ; a proper examina¬ 
tion would have warned him of the danger. 
“Back-way” headings, especially when 
wide, require greater care than “ face¬ 
way ” headings, as the coal then 
hangs over. 


Bass 

































































































































SEVEN FEET BANBURY COAL, 


Isias 




< ' ■' 


Fig. 85. Section SW, illustrating a 
fatal accident from a “leaning slip.” 
(See page 17.) 




mm 


FIG. 87. 


























EIGHT FEET BANBURY COAL. 



/ 


Figs. 88 and 89. Plan and Section S. Cleat indistinct. Slips 
frequent. Rib A is left, owing to an uneasy roof and to make the 
timber drawing safe. This is not usual. 



FIG. 89. 


















































EIGHT FEET BANBURY COAL 



Figs. 90 and 91. Plan and Section 
further North. Slips: 3° NE, are very 
frequent, and pass through the black 
bass; 16 0 NW, called “straight things,” 
are less frequent. 



Coal 6' 



















EIGHT FEET BANBURY COAL. 



FIG. 92. 


Fig. 92. Centre. Plan of drift in which a fatal 
accident occurred. The coal in this drift was unusually 
thick, owing to disturbances and irregular inclination, 
and required 12' posts. The seam is worked by a 
modified board and pillar method. The pillars, 
which vary in size and shape, owing to the irregu¬ 
larities of the dip of the seam, are worked off in 
dressings about 3 yds. wide, as soon as they are 
formed. One of these pillars was being sliced, the 
drift being just through to the old gob, when the roof, 
which had a loose end on one side, fell over the 
whole area, reeling out all the posts (10 or 12) and 
killing the collier. The roof fell over an area of 35 
square yards, and was 5 yards thick at the face side. 
It was loosened by a slip, which was not perceptible 
in the roof, owing to the roof coal being left at that 
point. This accident shews the importance of erecting 
chocks where the roof is broken on two sides of the 
drift, and when working slowly, and of always keep¬ 
ing two or three rows of posts on the gob side of the 
rails. 

The roof is generally good, and stands sometimes 
unsupported over large areas; slips are rare, except 
near faults. The coal is dense, and contains no 
distinct cleat; slips abound, which do not all run 
through the whole seam, and seldom run into the roof. 

The coal is usually 7' 6" thick, with a 3" band, 
12" from the floor. 

Southwestw'ards and westwards in part the Eight 
Feet seam runs out to an unworkable thinness. 


Bass 

Coal 1' o" 
Bass 2' o" 
Coal 3" 
Bass 6' o" 


Top Coal ( hard) 
2' o" 


_ Bass 12" 



Aliddles ( inferior) 

2' 2" 

containing hard grey 
bands impregnated 
with pyrites 


Wall Coal 

6 ' 

4 


Warrant 2' 3" 


FIG. 92A. 


Fig. 92A. Section of heading, extreme West. The headings are 12' wide. 
The Middle Coal is taken down as soon as it shews signs of giving. The Top 
Coal forms a very good roof. 
























EIGHT FEET BANBURY COAL 



FIG. 93 - 


Figs. 93, 94 and 95. Plan and Sections N. The 
coal attains a thickness of over 9’ in places. Slips 
very frequent; they do not run into the roof, which is 
pretty free from joints and slips. Lancashire method. 
Coal punches are left in places. The coal is wedged 
off. Overhanging or loose pieces are supported as in 
Fig. 94. Not being properly stamped, one of these 
sprags gave way, and a collier was killed by the coal 
which fell in consequence. 


Strong light Bass (good roof) 



Section AB 



































































Fault 



bullhurst coal. 


FIG. 96. 


being verv ctrr.nl an an< ^ Section (S.) of an exceptionally long drift, possible only from the top 

— & 0n reaching ti, f 59-) The Middles are first holed about 3' and the Bottoms are then wet 
The coal h ^ , t le .^°P s are cu t and wedged down, and the high side of the pillar partly Aid 

over in the (fiffe* C ?*>,’ 1 ' jrea ^ cs U P easiest in the plane of stratification. Slips are frequent; 


back. The coal ai V t ' le .^ups are cut and wedged down, and the high side 
dde over in the diflfL° C j 1 breaks up easiest in the plane of stratification. Slips are trequv.*... 
which seldom extcnri mil, a , n '* sometimes run out, but often run along the whole drift. Rv 

occur occasionally Til ef r tE - an ^ ’ an< ^ w bLh are frequent, cut the slips out. Slips called “ Devil’s 
put up to collect the roll °°a 1S V6r ^ l arc ^> an< ^ the posts are pointed and let in slightly. Slabposts < 
to form a “ battery ” tvII P^? tect tbe loader. When placed at the lower side of thurlings they are 
at the high side. eadln £ s st an d well for some time without timber, but have eventually to be 

thick ; the Middles^lrre^ 11 ? 6 t l e « Elg l t Feet Banbur y r uns out, the Bullhurst thickens: the Tops rem 
(Stools) underlies the Hot!,!’ 2 d and the Bottoms to 5—5' 3" in thickness; and 1' 10" of tnferioi 
dip 85' S.W. s ‘ ^ he cleat is very distinct 4° NE. Slips frequent; they run 8i° NW 


BULLHURST COAL. 


,®\ b 



FIG. 98. 


Section AB 


Vicr 08 Section W. Lancashire method with 10 yds. pillars. Posts 
are 4' apS> and damped 6" into the Stools. The Tops fall on drawmg 
the posts, and most of them are recovered. 

Fatal accidents have occurred from pieces of Middles falling on to the 

Cke off °he siSe of a cuing in which two men were at work, and qnd 






























Strong metal roof 


BULLHURST COAL. 



FIG. 99. 


Fig- 99 - Section W. N. of Fig. 98. The headings stand well 
without timber, except in the neighbourhood of faults. 






BULLHURST COAL. 



FIG. ioo. 


Fig. IOO. Section W. N. of Fig. 99. Shewing a collier driving 
thurling. The Stools have run out. 











BULLHURST COAL. 


■ •• t; ' ' ■■ 

- vi*; • i rV.-' ■ 

; >.‘,i l - ■ ■ ■ •- ' . t: 

■ • a : ■■ •- 



Coal 15" 

Bass, etc., 14’ 
Coal 6" 

Hard Sandstone 
30 ' 

■ Bass 7" 


Tops 2' 3“ 
(Inferior) 


Middles 
( Best Coal) 


Wall Coal 


FIG. iooa. 


Soft Warrant 
7 ' 3 " 


Fig. iooa. Section of heading, extreme West. “ Strait ” places 
driven as shewn from 2 to 4 yds. wide. The wall coal is taken up 
60 yds. behind. 



Fig. 101. Section E. of Fig. 100, illustrating a fatal accident to a 
boy, from not protecting the high side in a level, which could have been 
done with short posts and slabs. 


The seam thickens to 14' over a small area. 




















BULLHURST COAL. 


Fig. 101 a. Section N. Intended 
to be worked by 20—30 yds. longwall 
faces on the rise, with a jig in the 
middle; jig packs 4 yds. wide, and 
alternate wastes and packs. The 
bottom coal is left underfoot until the 
first weight occurs, which will supply 
builders for packs. It is expected 
that it will then be possible to work 
the whole thickness. The Top Coal 
forms the roof, and will be recovered 
in the wastes. 


f°t, o 



FIG. 101 A. 






LONGTON DISTRICT. 


FIGS. 102—I 7 I. 










































BASSEY MINE IRONSTONE. 


0 


Figs. 102 and 103. Plan and Sec¬ 
tion W, shewing the rails being taken 
up and a new buttock started near the 
jig. The chocks are taken out of the 
waste and moved forward. The roof 
breaks behind them. 

Dips and levels are driven 4 yds. 
wide. Though the roof is extremely 
hard a row of posts is usually set on 
either side of the rails in the levels, 
one of which carries the brattice. The 
stone vanes considerably in thickness, 
and when thin is sometimes of inferior 
quality. 

Joints very distinct and regular ; 
main joints from 4'—6' apart, but 
closer in places ; they are best defined 
in the bottom and middle bands ; 
they do not run through into the roof, 
stones and bass, though the latter are 
jointy. 




FIG. 103. 


Section AB 





































































































































































BASSEY MINE IRONSTONE. 


Cinder (Lean Stone) 9 
***** Inferior Stone 6 



Fig. 104. Section about one mile Eastwards. The joints in the stone 
which run io° NE, are from 6"—18" apart. The cleat of the coal is distinct’ 
and is 22 0 NW. ’ 


SPENCROFT COAL. 



Fig. 105 A & B. Plan and Section 
N. Opened out by “ breasting.” The 
roof, and especially the clod, is bad, and 
contains numerous slips. The clod is 
taken down in the main levels. The 
levels are usually barred ; the lower end 
of the bars is sometimes placed on short 
12" posts (truncheons), which are set on 
the coal when it is hard and not likely 
to rate off. Cleat pretty distinct. 



- — — -- clay Shale 

~~ r containing 

—:- thin hands 

~ -— — of Stone 



FIG. 105B. 


Section AB 










































GREAT ROW COAL. 


Figs. 106 and 107. Plan and Section W. The Top Coal is cut down in 
the wastes. It is well supported by at least two chocks between the wastes and 
the rails. A collier was killed by the fall of a piece of Top Coal. The cause 
of the accident is given on pages 51 and 52. The roof is hard, clunchy and very 
heavy ; it breaks down close behind the Top Coal The cleat is very distinct 
A 10" band of Cannel Coal runs half-way up the seam in places; it contains 
cleat planes half an inch and more apart. 


4 


* 


FIG. 107. 































GREAT ROW COAL. 



D/tCS 

Strong " sandstp * 6 

‘““'VV 


Fig. 108. Section about one 
mile Eastward. The same method 
of working prevails. The cleat 
runs 20 ° NW, and is very distinct. 




FIG. 108. 



CANNEL ROW COAL. 


Figs. 109 and no. Plan and Section 
N. The roof is very stroug; it stands 
without much timber. The cleat is irregu¬ 
lar and curly. The joints in the Cannel 
are very distinct and run from 6"— 2 ' 
apart. 



FIG. 109. 


FIG. no. 

















CHALKY MINE IRONSTONE. 


Figs. Ill and 115 
tion W. The gob is c 
and not much timber i: 




FIG. 112 . 










RAG MINE IRONSTONE. 




Fig S- 11 j—117. Plans and Sections W. in Top and Bottom works. 
The Bottom bands are worked in advance of the Top bands, the gob of 
the former, which is tightly packed, forming the floor of the latter. 
The posts in the Top works are occasionally placed on footlids. The 
jop bands have distinct joints; but those in the bottom bands are 
indistinct. 



Canrtel 

Bass 


Inf. Stone 


FIG. 117 - 


FIG. 114. 


FIG. 116. 
































KNOWLES COAL. 


<£> 



Figs. 118 and 119. Plan and Section N. The Top Coal is got in the 
wastes. It forms a pretty good roof in the drift, though bars are necessary 
in places. Cleat very distinct. Large tubs are used, and the gauge of the 
rails is 2' 6§", which necessitates wider roads than is advisable. 



FIG. 119. 































KNOWLES COAL. 



FIG. 120. 


Figs. 120 and 121. Plan and Section N. over a small area. The Top 
Coal is about three yards above the working coal, and the intervening clay 
shale forms an exceedingly bad roof. The packs are built very close, and 
the coal holed only so far as it is required. Cleat not very regular; N'S in 
the harder and 9° NW in the softer coal bands. 



FIG. 121. 



















KNOWLES COAL. 



Fig. 122. Section W. 
distinct; ic° NW. 


The coal is dull and inferior. The cleat is 



KNOWLES IRONSTONE. 



123. 


Figs. 123 and 124. Plan and Section W. The top bands are worked 
separately close behind the bottom bands. The stones and bass contain 
numerous slips (see Section), which pass through all the strata and make the 
roof very uneven, especially in the top work. Much timber is required, especially 
in the top work, where the lids have to be very strong, and footlids are used. 
There are no distinct joints in the stones, but the slips pass through them. 















































KNOWLES IRONSTONE 

v 


x \ %v 

\ «-v \ 

*** \ 

8 

la \ 

fb \ -SI 

\ u 

0 m « r* / 

\ *Vy 

6 ^N>* 

;VV 

Figs. 125 and 126. Plan and 
„ Section, about one mile East- 

sw 

a °oM 
3§gPVi; \ 

■' 7 ~ wards. Worked on the same 

principle. The roof is much better 
and requires no bars or unusually 
\ thick lids. The joints, both in 

\ the stone bands and in the bass, 

\ \ are very distinct. 


\\y\ 

1\W o 



'\\ °' N 


\ \ ° \ 

Er®» \ \ ° \ 

' „\ FIG. 125. 

@P \ 3 

J* 




\ \ \ 


\\ MH§> 

\ * 

\\ 

\ f‘V 

\rvj 





V-- 

X ' 


\ >Vt 

'\ x 

\ isp 

\ _ ^ 

22° 

- 


FIG. 126. 


Section AB 

















RIDER COAL. 



Fig. 127. Section N. Where the Rider Coal lies near the Ash Seam 
it is worked a few yards behind the Ash, either by getting it in the wastes 
only, or sometimes drifting it over the A«h packs as well (as shewn in 
Section). 

North-West, where the Rider Coal lies 5—7 yards above the Ash Seam, 
it has been worked separately. It is 2' 10"—3' thick, and has a good strong 
metal roof. 








Figs. 128 and 129. Plan and Section W. The coal is bright, dense and hard, 
interspersed with irregular thin bands of hard, dulldooking coal. Small, hard grey 
argillaceous lumps occur in it, at times as large as T thick x 3' wide and 3—4 yds. 
in length. The roof is heavy and strong, and falls in the wastes in large pieces. 
There is abundance of packing material. The hard shale between the coal and the 
Rider is absent in places. The coal is usually rated off, but it is holed at the top 
(Rider) at times. The cleat is undefined and irregular. Slips occur frequently; 
they run from 2—12 0 NW. 



Fig. 129A. Section of dip. Extreme East. The dip is 9' wide, and is 
timbered every 4* by two legs (P) and a bar, with slabs over them. The bars, 
which are 7' 6" long, are liberated at their ends to prevent their being easily 
broken by the side pressure. The legs are inclined. The Rider Coal, which is 
taken down 3 yards behind the face, is supported by temporar) posts. 















ASH COAL. 



FIG. 


130 - 


Figs. 130 and 131. Plan and Section about one mile East of last Figs. Cleat 
very distinct, and slips preponderating 18 0 NW. Where slips are few they are 
regular, and run through the whole seam, but when they are numerous they run in 
and out irregularly and unexpectedly. The coal hanging over the sprags has 
occasionally come off from a slip and injured the colliers. Overhanging coals 
should be supported by stretchers from posts, as shewn. The packing material is 
limited, and the roof generally breaks down in the wastes to the Rider Coal, 7 yards 
above. The ironstone is very good, and is collected and sent out at the rate of one 
ton of stone to 15 tons of coal. The roof is not strong. 



FIG. 131. 


Section AB 








LITTLE MINE IRONSTONE. 


FIG. 132. 



Figs. 133 and 134. Plan and Section W. Cleat very distinct. 

Further East the bass turns to fireclay and the chance bands are thicker near 
the coal. In that case only about 2' are turned over above the coal. 















































































TWIST COAL. 



FIG. 135. 


Fig- 135. Section S. Longwall, with 70 yds. faces. The clod is 
treacherous, containing smooth surfaces, and requires to be carefully sup¬ 
ported. It is taken down in the jigs. On one occasion it had been taken 
down to about 4' from the jig post, the jig being 9' wide. A piece of the 
projecting clod, 7' 6" x 3' 6" and 18" thick, broke off and killed the jigger. 
A bar should be placed under such projecting pieces of roof, or the latter 
should be taken down to nearer the jig post. 











MOSS COAL. 



FIG 


136. 


Figs. 136 and 137. Plan and Section S. Cleat very distinct; cleat planes 
being as near as 5" apart in places. Slips like the one shewn in Section run in 
the coal at intervals. The shale roof breaks up small easiest in the direction of 
the coal cleat; it forms a very bad roof, and necessitates much timber. Lids are 
formed of broken posts and bars are frequently put up. The jig post is shifted 
after two falls, so that the rails are bent as in plan for the second fall. The roof 
is too bad to allow of a back fall. 
















MOSS COAL. 


138. 


Figs. 138 and 139- Plan and Section NW. The nature of the seam varies 
considerably. The roof is strong, and bends down in the wastes ; it seldom breaks. 
The drifts are 25 yds. on each side the jig, but are all in one long straight face. 
The cleat planes run due NS, at intervals of a few inches. The coal between them 
has a slight tendency to split in the same direction, but it has a greater tendency to 
break in the plane of stratification. The coal comes off in long pieces. Slips 
occur in the coal in places at intervals of from 1'—4' 

The Cannel Bass contains very straight joints, at intervals of about 4 ", in the 
same direction as the cleat planes. It breaks in long, square, thin pieces. The 
curly cannel contains curly planes of division, 4" apart, in the same direction. 



Shal‘ 


s^fS* 

Loose 



FIG. 139. 


Section AB 



















































































MOSS COAL. 



FIG. 140. 


Figs. 140 and 141. Plan and Section of a “breasting” down dip N. 
The roof is good. The coal long-grained and dull. The chocks very 
regular; made of 4" square timber, about 4' 6" long. 








YARD COAL. 



FIG. 142. 


Figs. 142 and 143. Plan and Section SE. The jig post is shifted every 
6 yards when the roof sinks down in a body, as shewn. The floor is hard, 
and the posts are not stamped. The floor is roughened where posts are set. 













YARD COAL. 



Figs. 144 and 145. Plan and 
Section N. The drifts are from 50— 
60 yards long on each side the jig. A 
breadth of 6' is holed and drifted ; the 
tops are then got down in the wastes, 
as shewn in plan, the back timber 
drawn, and packs built close to the 
top row, as shewn in section. 

Cleat distinct. Slips run through 
bottom coal and dirt at intervals of 
about 2—3 yards, in the direction of 
the face. 


























YARD COAL. 



•j" Inferior 

Fireclay 
7! 1* 


Siliceous 


Shale 


Coal 

6 " 


„ Dark Cl a y, Sh n froal 
xo"—24 w ith streaks of 


Middle Coal 
3^—4 7 


x' 7" 2 ' l " 


10"— 3 * 1 


Cannel Bass 2 


FIG. 145A. 


Fig. 145A. Section NW. Longwall, as in Fig. 144. The Bottom 
Coal may probably be worked separately afterwards. 
















































































BIRCHES COAL. 



FIG. 146. 


Figs. 146 and 147. Plan and Section SE. The drift extends 25 yards on 
each side the jig. Coal posts are left in part, but where the roof breaks and 
builders are obtainable, pinnings.are built, especially between the coal posts near 
the jig. The chocks are 2' 6" square, and are filled. The cleat is distinct. Very 
pronounced cleat planes, coated with flakes of pyrites, occur at intervals of from 
3'—4' and more. The coal, which is not holed, only just pricked, is got down 
from them, after being cut at the sides. A secondary cleat, not so distinct, runs 
nearly at right angles to the first. The roof is pretty good, but contains slips in 
places. 

Northwards the coal is inferior, and is not worked. 



FIG. 147. 


Section AB 





















TEN FEET COAL. 



Figs. 148 and 149. Plan and Section NE. The roof is very short and jointy, 
and occasionally falls in at the face, in which case pillars are left to recover a new 
roof, as ia Plan. It very soon cuts at the face, and the floor lifts, as in Section. 
Where the bass is exceptionally loose 15" of Top Coal are left over the packs. 
Where the roof is stronger a back fall of ij yards is got in going back. Cleat 
very distinct. The coal is rated off, very little holing being done. 


























































































































BOWLING ALLEY COAL. 



Figs. 150 and 151. Plan and Section SE. Post and thurl. The roof is 
strong, and contains fossils ; it falls in large pieces after the coal posts are 
removed. The floor heaves very much, and tends to lift the posts up in the head. 
The coal splits up very small, and is rated off. Cleat well defined in E. direction, 
but best 34° NW. The coal is worked by longwall in places. The roof has to be 
blown for builders; it is slightly more expensive to get, but more round coal is 
made and much less powder is used Chocks are built at the face, and are after¬ 
wards drawn from the wastes. Less timber is required. The floor does not 
heave, and the effects of weighting in the roof are not, seen at the face, as with 
the other method. Jigs stand well on 3' chocks, 6' apart. 


S %*» ss 



Section AB 


FIG. 151. 
























BOWLING ALLEY COAL. 



FIG. 152. 


Figs. 152 and 153. Plan and Section NE. The roof is strong, and contains 
a fossil band. Section shews a shot hole being bored to blow down the bass, to 
form builders for the packs. The bass is down over spaces S, S. The coal is soft, 
and requires little holing. Cleat very distinct, but varies from 8°—18 0 NW. The 
clay underneath it varies much in thickness. The bass contains two very 
distinct series of joints, from 6" and more apart. 



FIG. 153- 









HOLLY LANE COAL. 



Figs. 154 and 155. Plan and Section NE. Longwall drifts 50 yds. on each 
side the jig. Cleat very distinct, longer in Top than in Bottom Coal ; cross cleat 
in places. Joints run pretty parallel in the bass, 18"—24" apart. The roof is 
good ; it weights in large pieces. The coal adheres strongly to the bass. 

The levels have lately been “breasted” in, 32 yds. wide, and three roads 
formed ; the upper and the lower one for ventilation, and the centre one, in 
which the roof is taken down for a drawing road. The drifts are started from 
the upper road. 



FIG. 155. 








HOLLY LANE COAL. 


Figs. 156 and 157. Plan and Section E, illus¬ 
trating the falling in of the roof in a drift over an 
area of about 150 sq. yds., by which a collier was 
killed. 

There is a layer of clay shale, 2' 4" thick, 
which forms the roof. It is usually strong, but 
ow'ing to the presence of slips and to the drift 
having stood for some weeks it was tender, and was 
loosened from the roof above along a smooth 
parting. There was an ample supply of timber ; 

x x represent the posts, and x-x the posts 

and bars which were knocked out by the fall, about- 
50 in number. 

This large fall of roof occurred owing to the 
packs being so far apart, and the back timber not 
having been drawn in consequence. The pack had 
also not been built close up to the face. The two 
back rows of posts, by supporting the roof, threw 
additional weight on to the coal and the timber at 
the face. The posts were easily knocked out, 
from being set too square wuth the dip, which, 
with a loose roof, was wrong. The other five men 
who were in the drift at the time escaped almost 
miraculously. 

Souihwards the Top Coal is 3' 3" and the 
Bottom Coal 2' thick ; the floor is hard. The 
drifts are 45 yds. on each side ; the jig packs 3 yds. 
and wastes 6 yds. 



FIG. 157 - 


HARD MINE COAL. 



Figs. 158 and 159. Plan and Section NE. The roof is bad and 
short, heavy and full of slips, and contains stone nodules. The 
floor is very hard in places, so as to prevent posts being stamped. 
The coal is rated off and very little holed. Cleat very distinct ; 
there is an occasional cross cleat, 18 0 NE. 

Further S., in places where the coal is worked quickly, the 
roof stands better. 


FIG. 159. 

























fig. 160 


Dresser 


Figs. 160 and 161. Flan and Section SE. 

Post and thurl; 50 yds. on each side the jig. 

Walls from 6—8 yds., according to the nature 
of the roof and occurrence of a weight. The 
three end walls are completed before the near 
walls are begun. Before taking up the rails, pillars 
A are robbed as much as possible, and also the bases of 
pillars B. After the rails have been taken up, pillars A 
are worked at still further, with a view to prevent the roof 
from weighting at the face. As much coal is got off as pos¬ 
sible, and the remaining pillar is smashed. This is a dangerous 
operation, and requires great care and judgment. Fatal acci¬ 
dents have occurred at this work. Temporary posts have often 
to be set whilst this work is going on. The coal is wedged after 
being holed, and then brushed off with a dresser. The coal contains 
cleat planes from 6"—18" apart in the Bottom Coal, but oftener in the 
Top Coal and bass, in which they run in the same direction. There 
are cross cleat planes in the Top Coal and bass, but seldom in the 
Bottom Coal. (See page 115.) 


Section CD 


i ca1ttiel 


NEW MINE COAL. 




Fig. 162. Section of a drift N. of last Figs., which is 
only occasionally worked, and in which the roof conse¬ 
quently breaks so badly that bars have to be placed up to 
the end of the holing, to support the roof before the sprags 
are taken out. Both the coal and the 3" bass are inter¬ 
sected at intervals of from about 6" to 18". by two sets of 
parallel planes, 22° NW and 45° NE. They break in 
blocks from between these planes, and shew no sign of 
cleavage, and are very hard. 


Figs. 163 and 164. Plan and Section SE. Drifts are 
kept 50 yards on each side the jig. The Top Coal is* cut 
down in the wastes. Usually two falls are got before 
moving the jig post, and occasionally also a backfall as 
shewn in plan. There is a parting in the roof, 4' 6" above 
the coal, above which it stands well, and forms the roof 
in jigs and other roads. 

,,0 g 1 ** 1 Pl^es, presenting reddish-brown surfaces, run 
42 jNW, 3_ 12 apart; cross cleat, 45° NE prettv 

d u- 1 n Ct ‘ n he COal breaks in Uttle blocks i “ yields ga s y 
which smells of SH a pretty freely } g ’ 


FIG. 162. 


o 


o 























BANBURY COAL. 



Fig. 165. Section N. Worked by 30—40 yds. drifts on each side the jig. 
Jig packs, 4 yds.; others 2 yds. Wastes, 6—8 yds. A large weight comes on 
about every 12 yds. It gives from one to six days warning. The roof sinks 
gradually about one foot, and breaks off at the face (see Fig.), presses the posts into 
the floor, or breaks them and flattens the packs. On the roof beginning to weight 
in a drift, the rails are at once pulled up and the men with drawn until the weight 
has had its fling. To get under new roof the jig is first moved up, and the coal 
“ breasted ” from 6'—12' on each side, the new roof being timbered and supported 
by struts placed against the old roof, which are of great assistance. A back fall of 
coal is brought back and the new packs are begun. The old timber is all lost. 



Fig. 166. Section E. The roof is very good ; it contains no slips. The 
first peel which falls in the wastes is 4' thick. 1" bass sticks to the coal and comes 
down with it; a very smooth parting separates it from the roof above. The gob is 
nearly filled. Cleat, which runs 30° NW, is not very distinct. The coal breaks 
readily in plane of stratification. 


















COCKSHEAD COAL. 



FIG. 167. 


Figs. 167 and 168. Plan and Sec¬ 
tion E. Longwall, pannel work. Drifts 
from 26—30 yards. Cleat distinct, and 
slips 12° NE, which pass through the 
whole seam, are not frequent. 

Slips occur in the Top Coal only, in 
the same direction as the cleat (see Sec 
tion and Plan); they are smooth, and 
run through into the roof. They ma 1 be 
breaks formed when the Top Coal is first 
exposed to pressure by holing. 


On one occasion the whole of the Top Coal in a drift fell, burying all the 
posts. This was either due to the first weight having been too long deferred, or to 
the Banbury roof, which was 45 yards above, and which had stood for years, falling 
in suddenly. 


Northwards : A fatal accident occurred from the Top Coals falling on to the 
buttocker, who was pulling the Bottom Coals off. There was a post and bar 6' 
from the end of the buttock, and the pack was 4' from it. The coals came off a 
large slip, the presence of which was known. A post, or a post and bar, should be 
set not further than 4' from the buttock end under tender coals. 



Section AB 


FIG. 168. 









BULLHURST COAL 



Fig. 169. Section NE. Cleat not very regular, except in places where it runs 
43 0 —50° NW. Usually worked by post and thurl, walls from 6—10 yds. wide; 
the coal posts being quite lost. The Tops are cut down behind, usually when the 
wall is completed. The roof does not fall, so that there are no builders, and if coal 
posts were not left the roof would take the face on the occurrence of a weight. The 
sandstone contains numerous slips, from which large pieces fall. The coal is much 
ground between the hard roof and floor, and much slack is made. Fatal accidents 
have occurred whilst cutting the Tops down incautiously. 

Further South, the clay between the coal and sandstone increases in places to 
as much as 15'. The clay has been worked for tile-making, etc. 


WINPENNY COAL. 



FIG. 171. 















t 











. 



















NORTON DISTRICT. 


FIGS. 172—252. 























































HALF-YARDS IRONSTONE. 



FIG. 172. 


Figs. 172 and 173. Plan and Section S, shewing the face of a dip in 
which a fatal accident occurred. Joints in stone very frequent; they lean 
over on passing into the roof in the form of slips. (Fig. 173.) A projecting 
piece of bass, which the collier failed to secure, fell upon him from off one 
of these slips, and caused him fatal injuries. The cohesion along this slip 
had been further loosened by water, which dropped from the roof abundantly. 
Longwall drifts : 20—30 yds. on each side the jig ; packs 4'—5'; wastes 9'. 
Two rows of posts are kept up. 



FIG. 173. 


Northwards, the stone is from 12"—14" thick and the coal about 20". 
As the stone thickens in places the coal thins and vice versa. Holing is done 
in 18" of fireclay under the coal ; it is called alum shale, and was formerly 
worked for alum, but is now made into firebricks. 































































RED SHAGG IRONSTONE. 


White Metal 

lCrossil „ ( * a s\u R htiy 

- r==: ' " ' 1 ’’ I £>„CC 



FIG. 174. 


Fig. 174. Section W. The stone varies much in thickness. It is 
worked by iongwall outwards, with as long faces as possible ; 6 yds. packs 
and 8 yds. wastes. The roof breaks in the wastes and affords packing 
material. The turn of the dip destroys the parallelism of the joints, which 
run through bass and crossil. It used to be worked by headings and 20 yds. 
pillars, but this necessitated more timbering. A small coal seam (12") lies 
8 yds. above the stone. 

Southwards the stone has an average thickness of 2' 3", but varies 
from 16"—3' 6". It is topped by 9"—18" of “cinder.” The underlying coal 
is 1' 6" thick. The drifts are 40 yds. on each side the jig. When starting a 
drift from the solid rib the cinder is left up at first, as the white dirt above it 
forms a very bad and heavy roof. Large wooden chocks, 4' x 6', are erected 
4' from the rib and 6' apart. The cinder is then dropped between the 
chocks, and forms builders for packs, which are built continuously with the 
chocks. A fatal accident occurred through neglecting to erect a chock as 
soon as there was room. Twenty tons of roof fell over a space 12'x 17' 
reeling out three posts. The fall was accelerated by a shot in the stone. 

To the South the stone thins down to 18", is worthless, and has conse¬ 
quently not been worked. 



































































































RED MINE IRONSTONE. 



Figs. 175 and 176. Plan and Section SW. The grey clay shale roof 
being bad, both flannels and top band are left, and form a strong roof. It is 
supported by cogs made of pieces of oil bass (which here is too thin to send 
out) 2' 9" square, and at intervals of 6'—9'. The remainder of the gob is 
filled with holing dirt and slack. The face or main joints run very regularly, 
from 2'—4' apart ; the end joints are not so regular. 


and more J 10 ^ 


, Clay Slmle 



Clay Shale Z Stone 

H , rd 

Top 4 
Stone I 2 j( 
Oil Bas> 4 


.''—22 


Marl 


FIG. 176. 









RED MINE IRONSTONE. 



Fig. 177. Section further North. Joints as last Fig. Worked as last Fig., 
but Riflemen placed in a line with each other, so as to get the top band down 
between them, as it is of good quality. The floor is very soft, and a piece of oil 
bass is often placed under the posts. 



Fig. 178. Section further North and Centre. The oil shale and top stone 
are got down in the spaces between the stone cogs, which are from 3—4 yds. apart. 
The top stone and oil shale form a strong roof, but where they are removed the 
roof is bad. The oil shale is sent out. 

Further W, the top stone of the last Section is represented by two bands of 
stone, each 6" thick, separated by 4" of bass. The oil shale is 2' thick, is very 
good, and is usually got down behind the stone face. The stone below it consists 
of a peel about 9" thick, top stone 2'—4' 6" thick, which varies greatly in thickness, 
and bottom stone 2"—12", which is the best. 

To the South, the Red Mine, called Gutter Stone, is very lean. It has been 
worked at the outcrop. 









HOO CANNEL MARL. 



FIG. 179. 


Fig. 179. Section of heading C. The stone and coal which are not 
worked at present form a good but jointy roof. The headings are from 
6'—7' wide. Little timber is required. The marl is very strong, and has to 
be blown down. About 4' of it is sometimes left as a roof. It is used for 
making “ saggars ” and Queenware, 





























BASSEY MINE IRONSTONE. 


Clay Shale 
Bass 9 " 

S C'fSSpr* 

^ Bass 9 " 



16" (Z"- 2d,) 


Carbonaceof 

Shale *» 


FIG. 180. 


Fig. 180. Section S. The stone and coal vary much in thickness at 
short intervals. In some places the stone is 3' 7" thick. Where it is thin 
the coal thickens, and is of good quality, but where the stone is thick the 
coal thins and contains coalstones. Longwall, the gob being entirely 
packed, except where the stone is thick, when packs are formed. The roof 
is excellent, and requires little timber. 

The main joints run very frequently and distinctly 23 0 NW, and 
parallel to the coal cleat. Cross joints occur 22° NE. 

The following is a Section of the Bassey Mine NW:— 


Strong good bass roof, with frequent straight joint 
Pinning Bass 
Top Stone 
Bottom .Stone 


Oil Cannel 
Crozil Stone 
Dirt 
Coal 

Fireclay (very plastic) 


9 
' 2" 

ll" 

4 " 

8 " 

2" 

6 " 


5 6 " 







PEACOCK COAL. 



FIG. 181. 


Figs. 181 and 182. Plan and Section NW. The roof is very heavy and 
breaks at the face at each dressing. 18" of Top Coal is left over the packs to 
divide the walls, and to make the roof break separately in each. The roof is 
supported in the wastes by one row of posts closely set, and well stamped, 
generally nine in a 5 yds. w r all. They are supplied with long lids, to catch loose 
pieces. The coal is soft, and the bottom sprags all require lids. There are also 
stretchers from every post. Cleat distinct, but very short. The corner stretchers 
in each wall have to be removed to cut the corners; before this is done top sprags 
are set. The Top Coal which is left over the packs forms a bridge at the face. 
Bridge posts are set to prevent the Top Coal falling before the walls are cut. 
Foreset posts are set whilst drawing the back timber. Corners of dips are 
chocked and the dips barred, levels are driven just wide enough for tubs to pass 
along, and even then they require stretchers. 

Further N. the coal is 5' thick. Longwall, with packs and wastes ; there 
are four closely-set rows of posts in the wastes, behind which the roof breaks 
abruptly. The cleat is conchoidal and short, and appears in three directions. 



FIG. 1S2. 













SPENCROFT COAL. 



Fig. 183. Section W. Longwall, with 30—40yds. drifts; 4 yds. packs 
and 4 yds. wastes. A row of posts is set on the gob side of the rails only, 
the posts being from 3' to less apart. Most of these posts support bars at 
one end, whicli are let in the solid at the other end. As soon as holing 
recommences foreset posts are set under the bars. The coal is very brittle, 
and has to be supported by top as w r ell as bottom sprags. Cleat indistinct, 
42 0 NW. 


GUBBIN IRONSTONE. 



Fig. 184. Section S. The stone bands and chance bands are very 
irregular. Joints are very frequent and distinct in stone bands ; they occur 
at greater intervals in the strong bass, and are absent in the soft bass below. 
Longwall outwards ; gob entirely packed ; a iarge amount of dirt having to 
be sent out for want of space. The roof stands well in drifts, in which little 
timber is used, The jigs and levels, however, require much timber. Holing 
is facilitated by water being thrown on to the soft bass. Sprags are usually 
6 " in diameter and are strong ; they last three dressings or two months. 

















GUBBIN IRONSTONE. 



f ToptoM 3 

jetstone 12 
Wetstone *a 

Blue Band 3 ' 
0 // shale 


Glum 


Fig. 185. Section NW. (called Cannel Mine) varies 
much. The bottom bands are worked 15—20 yds. in 
advance, and the gob is carefully packed. The two 
bottom bands are lefi in places, so as not to have too high 
a drift. The gob in the top work is also carefully packed, 
and little timber is required. 


FIG. 185. 



- Top Band 3 


Wetstone 

Wetstone U 

Blue Band 5 


Stone 


Chatty Band 1 


Bottom 


Stone 


6" 


187 - 


GREAT ROW COAL. 

_ Heavy 



FIG. 186. 


See Fig • 185 


GREAT ROW COAL. 


, «"— l 2 ” » 



V 9""5 


o 


FIG. 187. 


Fig. 186. Section S. Cleat pretty distinct 24 0 NE. 
Longwall; drifts 40 yds. on each side the jig. Packs are 
4 yds. in width, and wastes from 4—5 yds. The Top 
Coal is cut down in the wastes, and is nearly all recovered, 
unless the roof breaks down with it, when the larger 
portion is buried. A row of posts is set at the face unless 
the coal projects too near the rail; another row is kept 
below the rails. Temporary posts are set under the tops 
whilst cutting, if necessary. The roof breaks down to a 
considerable height in the wastes, when the packing is 
not properly attended to. Holing at the top is found to 
improve the roof coal considerably. It is not shot shaken, 
as it would be if (he coal were underholed and the shots 
placed at the top. The floor lifts, and by holing one day 
in advance the coal is loosened, and only half the number 
of shots are required. 

To the West, 4"—6" of shale intervene between the 
Tops and the Bottoms. 


Fig. 187. Section NW. About 2’ 6" of gas producing 
Cannel and 3'—4' bass intervene between the Tops and 
Bottom Coal. The Top Coals and Cannels are got in the 
wastes ; they all form a very good roof. The packs are 
kept about 4 yds. wide and the wastes 8 yds. Two 
distinct parallel sets of joints, about 4"—6" apart, run 
through the Cannels. The face of the Top Coal is as 
much as 9 yds. behind that of the Bottom Coal. Posts 
are set without lids ; the roof being so hard. They are 
set on hard pieces of stone in wastes. Slips run in the 
Bottom Coal 30° NW, and dip in opposite directions. 











































CANNEL ROW IRONSTONE AND COAL. 



Figs. 188 and 189. Plan and Sec¬ 
tion S. Cleat irregular in places. The 
Cannel Ironstone forms an excep¬ 
tionally good roof. The drifts are 
often opened 30 yds. before the roof 
weights sufficiently to afford builders. 
Until then, when starting a drift walls 
and cross walls are built with the 
Cannel, about 18" thick, and the inter¬ 
vening space is filled with holing dirt 
and slack. 10 yds. pi lars are left on 
each side the jig. 


1S8. 


Southwards the Cannel Ironstone 
becomes thinner and the Cannel of 
better quality. The Cannel is used 
for calcining, as it contains much 
bitumen ; and the Cannel Ironstone 
is also used when it can be got out, 
and placed at the bottom of the iron¬ 
stone rucks, as one ton of it will pro¬ 
duce about 5 cwts. of calcined stone. 


Grey Bass 


Strong ^rk iwell 
Of fsets of 
- de fi ned Uel joints 


Cannel 

Ironstone 

(not got) 
Cannel 



Cannel 

Bass 

Inferior 
Coal 


FIG. 189. 


Section AB 























































































NEW CHALKY IRONSTONE. 



Bottof 

\t< 


FIG. 193. 


Fig- 193. Section W. Worked in 5 yds. walls. 




FIG. 190. 


CAN N EL 


ROW IRONSTONE AND COAL. 


Ca^ tel 

RoW 


vf s ^ 

Ca> l1iel 



Fig. 190. Section NW. The stone called Half-yards and the 
Cannel Row Coal are worked separately ; the former about two years 
after the latter. They are both worked in 40 yds. drifts. The stone 
forms a very good roof in the Cannel Row workings. No packs are 
formed, the gob being almost completely filled. The roof seldom 
breaks. Only one row of posts is set, and that on the gob side of the 
rails. If the roof begins to cut at the face posts are set on the high 
side. The coal is brittle, and lids are placed on the sprags. 

The roof coal in the Half-yards work is cut down in the wastes ; its 
face is 1 4 dressings behind the stone face. Packs are formed 2 yds. 
wide by Riflemen being placed at short intervals, and the intervening 
space filled in. The wastes are 4 yds. wide. Holing is done in part of 
the old gobbed up dirt of the Cannel Row Coal workings, which, having 
been compressed, forms easy holing. The Cannels and the Cannel stone 
are oil producing. 


PENNYSTONE IRONSTONE. 



Figs. 191 and 192. Plan and Section S. The main joints run from 
12"—18" apart; a few pass into the crozil, with a slight set off. Joints 
in bass frequent. Worked by 40 yds. longwall drifts on each side the 
jig. 2'—3' of floor are taken up in levels and jigs, in which larger tubs 
are used than at the face ; the stone being tipped at the top of the jig 
and reloaded. The gob is entirely packed, except where the holing 
dirt is thin. Whilst the buttock is being pushed forward the stone is 
rated off the side where it works off easily. Little holing or blasting is 
needed. 


LADY AND WINGHAY COAL. 



Fig. 194. Section Centre. Worked 
together. First the Winghay, in 80 yds. 
longwall faces, with 3 yds. packs and 
4 yds. wastes. The Lady Coal is 
worked about 8 yds. behind over the 
packs and in the wastes, the fireclay 
being first dropped in the latter. About 
8" of coal are left as a roof in the 
Winghay drifts, owing to the clay 
strata above forming a very bad roof ; 
little of it is recovered. The cleat is 
indistinct in the Winghay, but pretty 
distinct 23 0 NW. in the Lady Coal. 


Northwards the Winghay Coal is 
worked alone; it is 6' thick. 1' of 
coal is left to form the roof, part of 
which is recovered. As the coal is 
removed a row of posts is set 3' from 
the former row, which is then re¬ 
moved. The posts in each row are 
T apart ; the roof breaks up to them, 
and stones from the gob are packed 
behind them. See Fig. 281. 

Further East it is worked by post 
and thurl, pillars having to be left, 
owing to its proximity to the surface 
(30 yds.) 


FIG. 194. 




























WINGHAY OR RUSTY MINE IRONSTONE. 



FIG. 195. 


Figs. 195 and 196. Plan and 
Section NW. Joints run very regu¬ 
larly from 12"—18" apart. Worked 
by short longwall faces. 

A fatal accident occurred in a 
level 5' wide, with a pack on one side, 
owing to a deficient post (stoop) which 
supported a bar being loosened at the 
foot, without a foreset post being first 
set under the bar. The roof, which 
was considerably loosened by water, 
fell, though it was barred and planked. 


s „o»« C»»‘ 



j hlctfk 

H ari sW ie tnfn St° nC 
CW * potto" 1 

c,. - 


Section AB 


FIG. 196. 





\ ) 

y , bla (k 
^ le 


FIG. 197. 


Fig. 197. Section E. of Fig. 196. 
The coal forms a good roof. The gob 
is all packed, and one tub of dirt is 
sent out to four of stone. Longwall 
drifts, with one row of posts on gob 
side of rails. 


























































BIG MINE COAL. 



9 Fig. 198. Section of thurling in 

course of being driven. N.W. The 
roof, which is usually good, is ex¬ 
tremely loose here, from the proximity 
of the working to the surface, and 
has to be slabbed, even in thurlinrs. 
Cleat 40° NW., good. 


FIG. 198. 


CHANCE BAND IRONSTONE. 


Fig. 199. Section NW Levels 
driven every 10 yds. and drifted 
back in 44 yd. slices, thereby ex¬ 
posing as little of the roof as pos¬ 
sible. The gcb is entirely packed 
with bass and marl. This band 
thins Southwards. 


Hard Clay , but 
full of slips 





vmm 


FIG. 199. 



FIG. 201. 



























BROWN MINE IRONSTONE. 



Fig. 202. Section further North. Heads are driven io yds. apart, and 
intervening pillars drifted back. Section represents a principal heading in the 
solid, S' wide. The roof, which is usually good, is bad at this point, from its 
proximity to the surface, and has to be well timbered in strait work. Joints as 
above. 



Fig. 203. Section N. Worked in 18—20 yds. iongwall faces. The coal 
contains slips, which run 30° NW, from 2' 6"—3' 6" apart, along the whole length 
of the drift, which facilitate the getling, as there is no holing done. The slips do 
not run into the roof. The clay shale breaks in places in curved surfaces, but forms 
a good roof until a weight of the shale above occurs, when neither posts, chocks, 
or even packs are able to resist it, and the drift comes in. It gives ample warn¬ 
ing, and rails are taken up and everything removed. It often takes a week to 
settle, and a new drift is then re-opened. 


















































































RIDER COAL. 



FIG. 204. 


Figs. 204 and 205. Plan and Section further South. Cleat very distinct. 
The coal is tender and rates off and requires little holing. The roof is very 
good and little timber is set. 



FIG. 205. 


At the extreme North the roof, which is heavy clay shale, contains 
joints, which run in the same direction as the cleat and slips in the coal, 47 0 
NW ; the dip of the mine being 6 i° SW. Drifts are kept as small as with 
Fig. 203, for the same reason that although the roof is good, when once it 
weights it breaks all before it, and a new drift has to be started. The drifts 
extend 12 yards on each side the jig; one waste is formed with 6' pinning on 
each side. The posts are not stamped ; they rest on 3" slagg. The under¬ 
lying floor is so soft that were they once through into it they would be 
pressed in. Boards are placed under them where the slagg is absent. 























































ROWHURST COAL. 



Figs. 206 and 207. Plan and Section S. Cleat 
indistinct. Slips run very frequently, but independently, 
in top and bottom coal. Longwall drifts and breasting ; 
as “ stret work ” in opening out injures the roof, neces¬ 
sitating much timber. The drifts extend 30—35 yds. on 
each side the jig. A post is sometimes left in the 
wastes, to prevent a pot hole being formed, as it would 
immediately fill with gas. The wastes are often open 
for a distance of 15—20 yds., the roof and floor bending 
towards each other, and closing the cavities. 


and 


cwf ° r9 


FIG. 206. 



•_.3' 0 

*’ 'U «° re 



l°°* lari 


se "-'* 4 \ stones 


, a' 0 

> n ° re 


Section AB 


FIG. 207. 














BURNWOOD IRONSTONE AND COAL. 



Figs. 210 and 211. Plan and Section C. The stone 
and the coal are close together. Cleat is distinct. Joints 
in stone and roof are not regular. Regular slips occur in 
the coal at intervals; they run through the stone, and 
sometimes into the roof. The roof is very jointy and loose, 
and requires specially large lids. Broken posts are used 
for the purpose. The drifts extend 25 yds. on each side the 
jig. After the coal is dressed the rails are laid to the far 
end, there being a row of posts on each side of them. As 
the coal is dropped another row of posts is set next the 
face, and the rails are taken up, the bottom row is then 
drawn and the packs are built. In this way the men are 
not under the fresh roof whilst breaking up the coal, and 
are at once protected. The coa' is fallen against the posts 
in such a way as not to injure them. 


FIG. 210, 



Section AB 


pas* 


$to’ ie 


r Qo<d I 


Coa 1 3 


Cod* ' 


Northward 4'—4' 6" of bass or grey metal separate 
the coal from the stone, which is much thicker. 
















BURNWOOD IRONSTONE AND COAL. 



FIG. 212. 


Fig. 212. Section NW. Cleat distinct 47° NW, and slips occasionally 
34 0 NW. The joints in the Top Stone are distinct from those in the Bottom 
Stone; both are very irregular : Top Stone, 47 °—59 0 NW ; Bottom Stone, 
28°—35 0 NW and 115 0 NW. The coal and stone are both worked by long- 
wall faces, the latter about 8 yds. behind the former. The stone work 
equires very little timber. 

Further North, about 8" of hard shale, with streaks of coal run above 
the Top Coal. The latter varies much in thickness and quality, but the 
Bottom Coal remains constant. Cleat indistinct; slips occasionally in the 
coal 55 0 NW. Both coal and stone seams are worked by longwall, the 
latter about 15 yds. behind the former. If the stone is worked any con¬ 
siderable length of time after the coal, the floor heaves, and the stone which 
has been loosened by the subsidence of the bass sets fast again, and costs 
more to get. Both gobs are fully packed ; the lean stone is used for that 
purpose in the stone work. A band of lean stone, 18"—2', which forms the 
roof, is left. In the coal work the drifts are about 30 yds. on each side the 
jig. A row of posts is set close by the coal face, before the holing is com¬ 
menced, and the back row drawn. 






























/ 














BURN WOOD IRONSTONE AND COAL. 



Figs. 213 and 214. Plan and Section N. Worked by 30—50 yds. 
drifts, with the rails below the buttock which necessitates two rows of posts 
on the high side of the rails. Small wooden wedges (gluts) are driven into 
open joints in the roof. The joints in stone are regular and frequent through 
all the bands. 



At the extreme North, where the section and dip are almost identical, 
the rails are placed in the usual way, next the face and in front of the 
buttock ; posts are then placed between the rails and face where there is 
room. It is considered a better and safer method, as the workmen are 
under a smaller area of roof, and the pinnings can be kept closer. 














TWIST COAL. 


MOSSFIELD COAL 


FIG. 215. 



Figs. 215 and 216. Plan and Section N. Cleat indistinct. Slips every 
3' or 4'. They are deflected on passing into top and bottom layers, and 
sometimes pass into the roof. Longwall, without much holing, except 
occasionally in top or bottom. 

Further South the cleat, which runs 34 0 NW., is more distinct, and slips 
not so frequent. 



FIG. 217. 


Figs. 217 and 218. Plan and Section S. Cleat 
due N and S, pretty distinct, and cross cleat in places. 
Coal short grained and hard. Pig backs, or elevations of 
the floor without any corresponding elevation of the roof, 
are frequent. They are accompanied by wavy slips in the 
coal. Longwall ; a backfall 7' in width is taken home¬ 
wards. Slips occur in the roof. 



FIG. 216. 


FIG. 218. 






























MOSSFIELD COAL. 



FIG. 219. 


Figs. 219 and 220. Plan and Section further North. Cleat indistinct. 
Coal breaks in curly or round lumps. The holing is done at the top, owing to 
the coal sticking to the floor, which is very hard. The roof is so short and 
brittle in places that holing can only be done at intervals, separated by small 
unholed distances forming coal supports (bunches). These little intervals are 
called panes. A slab (slab-bar) has to be placed against the end of the holing 
after the pane is holed, and Supported at first by a short post on the coal, and 
eventually by a long post at one end. The roof breaks abruptly behind the 
timber in the wastes up to a hard bass. Much timber is required, of which 75% 
is lost. The wastes soon fill up. Where the roof is a little stronger the bass and 
7" of shale are taken down with the holing. 











YARD COAL. 



FIG. 22*. 


Fig. 221. Section S. Longwall ; 30 yds. drifts on each side the 
jig; the gob is almost entirely packed. Cleat, 6° NW, distinct. Two 
rows of timber are set, one on the gob side of the rails and one next the 
face, until the rails are taken up and the holing completed, when the 
former is removed. A large weight occurs about every 40 yds., when 
the roof drops 5" at the face. 






YARD COAL. 



Figs. 222 and 223. Plan and Section further 
North. Cleat: due N and S, very distinct but short. 
Slips: in coal and cannel due N and S but wavy, 
about every 3' ; in roof frequent. Joints : distinct 
in two directions in black bass, 3 0 NE, and 4" and 
more apart in Cannel. The coal is not holed ; it is 
“ rated ” down, so that a large portion of roof is 
exposed before the proper timbering can be set. It 
is important under a roof such as this, therefore, to 
set a temporary post A (Fig. 222) whilst “ rating,” as 
the posts and bars or high side posts cannot be set 
until the place is “squared up.” Several fatal 
accidents have occurred from neglecting this necessary 
precaution. 



FIG. 223. 


















RAGMAN COAL. 



6 " 


6 " 


Fig. 224. Section SE. Worked the same as the Yard Coal (Fig. 221), but 
in 40 yds. drifts, the roof being stronger. Packs are formed 3 yds. wide and 
are 3 yds. apart. Weight and timbering as in Yard. Cleat indefinite, but 
predominating 5° NE. 



Figs. 225 and 226. Plan and Section S. 
Cleat: due N and S, very distinct, but short. 
Cross cleat : short and in patches, but frequent. 
Coal: soft and short-grained, but harder in this 
instance from Yard Coal (Fig. 223) having been 
worked. The roof, which is very strong, and 
contains no slips, is not thereby affected. 


, „ c ‘°' 

C'ij&p,,,* ^‘ 



.Section AB 


FIG. 226. 






























OLD WHITFIELD COAL. 



FIG. 227. 


Fig. 227 and 228. Plan and Section N. The cleat is short. Lancashire 
method : headings 20 yds. apart ; 8 yds. slices taken off. There are always 
two rows of posts at the face. 



NE. the Bottom Coal thickens to 3' 9", and the roof is so much softer 
that the Top Coal is left up in the drifts. It is dropped, and all recovered 
in the wastes. There are always two standing rows of posts at the face, 
and one either being set or drawn. Worked as Fig. 229. 



















































STONEY EIGHT FEET COAL. 



Figs. 229 and 230. Plan and Section N. Coal very hard and cleat 
short. Lancashire method : headings 20 yds. apart; 7—8 yds. slices taken 
off. Top Coal got in wastes. Post C set to prevent roof from falling with 
Top Coal. The pinning, which is 3' at its base and 18" at the top, is built of 
pieces of the sandstone band. It is built up to the Top Coal. 



Section AB 


FIG. 230. 


TEN FEET COAL. 



FIG. 231. 


roof 


Figs. 231 and 232 S. Cleat due NS, very distinct. Cleat planes 
coated with carbonate of lime. Coal: long-grained. 

Slips in coal N and S, from 18"—4' apart. The Top Coal is left to 
form a better roof; it is inferior. The Middles stick to it and project over, 
preventing a row of posts from being set next the face. 


s-f‘AZ 


S^’ t ,„Js 




\ ! / 
O&Zi 


Section A B 


FIG. 232. 


Northwards The Tops, which are the best coal, are 5' 8" thick ; the 
Middles, vvhkh are inferior, are 1' 6", and the Bottoms Co". They are 
divided by dirt partings. 






































BOWLING ALLEY COAI 



Figs. 233 and 234. Plan and Section S, illustrating a fatal accident in 
a breasting. The collier fired a shot, which did not take effect, and instead 
of first protecting himself by timbering the overhanging roof, through which 
it was reasonable to expect slips to run, he started to pull the coal down, 
when the roof, which had been shaken by the shot, broke off two slips and 
killed him. The levels are breasted out; the longwall drifts start immediately 
from them. Cleat very distinct, due N and S. Slips in roof in three well 
defined directions. 2' 3" of shale is taken down in horse roads behind the 
coal face. The roof is good, and contains two thin bands of stone. Abrupt 
corners, like the place of this accident, try the very best roofs. 



Section AB 

































BOWLING ALLEY COAL. 



FIG. 235. 


Fig. 235. Section N. Worked by pure longwall, with as long faces as 
possible, either straight or along the arc of a large circle. The jigs are 
from 80—90 yds. apart. The coal is holed 4' 6"—6' o" under, and the men 
are under a fresh roof every three days. It is best worked on end, enabling 
it to be holed deeper and easier. Regular packs are built at intervals when 
the gob is not completely filled. Timbering as in -Fig. 241. Cleat distinct 
43 0 NW. 









HOLLY LANE COAL. 



FIG. 237. 


Figs. 236—238. Plan and Sections SE. Longwall drifts, 40 yards on each 
side the jig ; 34 out of 40 yards are packed. The roof subsides without breaking ; 
it peels off in long pieces parallel to the cleat. The holers are about seven yards 
in advance of the buttocker, who falls the coals at B (Fig. 232). This is done 
with a view of having as little roof unsupported as possible. The coal gets very 
easily, and the loaders are fully occupied. The cleat is very distinct. Several 
accidents having occurred from sprags giving way and coal falling on to the 
colliers, the following rule has been established : “ In addition to ordinary sprags. 
stretchers must be set against holed or unsafe coal, at intervals of not less than 
6' and oftener if necessary.” No accidents have been recorded since. 


# $$ 


Section CD 


236. 


Section AB 








































HOLLY LANE COAL. 



Figs. 239 and 240. Plan and Section S. Longwall. Cleat very distinct 
due N and S ; the cleat planes contain calcic carbonate in abundance. The coal 
is long-grained., Slips in coal frequent. Joints in roof 4 " and more apart. The 
roof is very strong; it does not break in the wastes, the floor heaves up to it. 
Floor is taken up to form builders. Large weights, which break off at the face, 
occur frequently. 



FIG. 240. 







HOLLY LANE COAL. 



Fig?. 241 and 242 Plan and Section 
NE. Worked as in Fig. 235, The sand¬ 
stone roof breaks mostly in leaning faces, 
as in Section. Cleat very distinct. The 
coal is holed 6' under. A fatal accident 
occurred in a dip from the driftman 
getting coal off the side against orders, 
and without setting posts. A slip was 
visible, which passed from the coal to 
the roof, and some of the roof had pre¬ 
viously fallen. 




FIG. 241. 


v&- 


( Full dip 22 ) 


FIG. 242. 


Vitv 




S ertion AB 


HARD MINE COAL. 


Fig. 243. Section SE. The roof is 
very irregular, and full of slips ; large 
pieces fall out in the wastes. Cleat dis¬ 
tinct io° NW in the soft coal, and from 
8°—20 0 NW in the hard coal. The coal 
had set very hard, from the Holly Lane, 
which is 30 yds. above, having been 
worked first. It is worked like the Holly 
Lane (Fig. 236), and the same precau¬ 
tions are adopted as to timbering. 













HARD MINE COAL. 



FIG. 244. 


Figs. 244 and 245. Plan and Section S. Plan shews temporary posts set 
near jig wheel whilst making room to move it up. Cleat due N and S, very 
distinct. Slips, N and S, very frequent; their surfaces are coated with fine dust. 
Coal exceptionally long-grained. Joints in Cannel N and S, at short intervals. 
The roof is jointy, and contains slips with very smooth surfaces. The clayshale 
forms a very bad roof, and requires to be well supported ; it weights after each 
dressing. 










HARD MINE 



FIG. 246. 


Figs. 246 and 247 Dan and Section NE. Worked as in Fig. 235. Cleai 
very distinct ; there are one or two hard coal bands in which the cleat planes are 
far apart. Owing to the hardness of the floor, the posts are not stamped. The 
coal is holed 4' 6" under ; where the holing dirt is thin the coal requires to be 
slotted, and a certain amount of slack is produced. Jigs are 50—60 yds. apart. 





FIG. 247B. 


Section AB 


Section AB 


FIG. 247. 


Figs. 247A and 247B. Plan and Section NE, illustrating a fatal accident in 
a level. Two datallers were told off to set four bars or stretchers under a slightly 
defective part of the roof in a level. Whilst one of them was holing out the hole to 
receive the first bar, a large piece of roof, weighing about 2\ tons, fell, killing him 
instantly. He had knocked at the roof before starting to work, and thought it 
safe. Had he set a temporary post, as is usually done before beginning to disturb 
the roof the accident would not have occurred. Temporary posts should always 
be set whenever timbering is. to be done in main roads ; this should not be left to 
the discretion of the timberers. The disturbance and appearance of breaks in 
the roof was due to the approach of the Holly Lane workings over the Hard 
Mine level. 


B 


Further South a fatal accident occurred at the face of a new level which 
was being driven alongside an old one which had fallen in. The roof was 
consequently worse than usual. It was also wet. The collier took out a post 
which he thought was too near the rails, without previously setting another one, 
and three tons of roof fell and killed him. 

At the extreme N. the coal is about 6' thick, and the seam is worked by the 
Lancashire method. 


















































BANBURY COAL. 



Fig. 248. Section SE. Worked by long- 
wall, 40 yds. drifts on each side the jig. The 
floor lifts and closes the gob. The coal grows 
to the sandstone when in contact with it. 



FIG 


Fig. 249. Section extreme N. Cleat 38° 
NW, very distinct. Worked by bank and pillar, 
much the same as in Fig. 251. The rails are 
shifted every 9 yds. The walls are 12 yds. wide. 
Regular rows of posts are set; each horizontal 
row from 4'—5' apart, and the posts in each row 
about 3' 6" apart. Two rows are kept standing 
below the rails. The roof is very good. About 
one post out of six is lost. 












COCKSHEAD COAL. 


P ffs 2^1 and 252. Plan and Section E. Worked 
nk and' pillar method. The bank or drift is 80 yds. 
d and is worked in four walls, two on each side. The 
H furthest in is completed and the timber drawn before 
' a ear one ‘ s f a ‘ r '> T started. The rails are shifted every 
;b C n ds . The roof is very good, it peals off in patches 
! email slips, and from breaks which shew themselves 
lr0 tJ]e centre of the walls. About 1' 6" of Top Coal is 
iftin all levels and dips, and forms a good roof. Part of 
coa i punches left in the gob are recovered. The posts 
! set from 4''—5* apart, and are strong, some measuring 
>K „ ' in (jiameter. When the timber is drawn extra posts 
s et along the topmost row. 

An attempt has been made Northwards, where the 
, is less, to work this seam by pure longwall, as 
described Fig. 235, so far with success. 


COCKSHEAD COAL. 



Fig. 250. Section SE. Lancashire method. Headings are driven about 
17 yds apart, and the pillars worked back, either with a fast end or continuously, 
according to the direction of work in respect to the cleat, which is very distinct. 
The coal is rated down by means of a spike (jobber) 9' long, which enables the 
collier to be out of danger from the falling coaL 

A fatal accident occurred, owing to the collier improperly pulling at the top 
coal whilst in front of it, although he was at some distance from it behind a post. 
A large piece of coal suddenly broke off, knocked the post out and killed the 
collier. 

Another accident occurred whilst taking up a 5 yds. walL About 7 cwts. 
of bass and coal suddenly broke oft from the face, and struck a post, w'hich was 
4' from it, sideways, reeling it clean out. It fell on to a collier who was ridding 
some coal lower down, and killed him. The post had only recently been set. 


FIG. 250. 







Section AB 


FIG. 252. 


At the extreme N. the seam is called Newpool. Its 
Section is the same. Nature of roof the same. Inclina¬ 
tion 27 0 . It is worked by the Lancashire method, with 
headings 10 yds. apart. The cleat runs 52 0 NW, and is 
distinct. The face is kept slanting, but does not hang 
over with the cleat. The coal is holed about 4', forming 
4' shoulders. Horizontal rows of posts are set about 5' 
apart; the posts in each row being 3'—3' 6" apart. Much 
less timber is lost by this method than by the method 
described Fig. 251 ; about one post in nine. 










































* 

























% 






































KIDSGROVE DISTRICT. 


FIGS. 253—278. 





HALF-YARDS IRONSTONE. 



FIG. 


253 - 


Figs. 253 and 254. Plan and Section S. The joints run irregularly, 
owing to proximity to faults and to change of dip. The roof is jointy, but 
good, and does not break down in the wastes. Riflemen, C, are erected in 
places. The stone is thicker than on the Norton side. The Bottom Stone 
vanes greatly in thickness, reaching as much as 5' in places. The seam is 
worked outwards by extended longwall faces. Whilst working out an old 
pillar, which was surrounded by gob on three sides, two men were killed by 
a fall of roof at the face within 6' from posts. The men had begun to hole 
after completing their dressing without first setting a post. No accidents 
have occurred along the longwall face. 



FIG. 254. 


















HALF-YARDS IRONSTONE. 



FIG. 255. 


Fie 2^ Section further North. Worked by longwall homewards, 
with roads in solid, in direction of level. Packs from 3-4 yds. ; wastes 
e—6 yds. Two and sometimes^ three rows of posts. The Bottom Stone 
runs quite out Northwards, and the seam cannot be worked to profit. As 
the stone thins the underlying coal thickens, and vice versa. 

Note _To the South, however much the Half-Yards, Red Shagg and 
Red Mine Ironstone seams may vary in thickness individually, they 
invariably make up an equal total thickness of stone at all points. 
























RED SHAGG IRONSTONE. 


FIG. 256. 



Figs. 256 and 257. Plan and Section S, illustrating a fatal accident. The 
clod which forms the roof contains many slips in irregular directions, some of 
which form bell mouths. The clod in this instance fell over an area of 60 square 
feet. It lay between two slips which were seen and another at the face, which 
was invisible. These slips leaned towards each other, forming a bell mouth. 
There was a chock 9' from the face ; this effectually supported the clod roof, 
which was found to be detached from the coal above. The clod in the waste 
behind the chock had fallen easily. The mass being detached from the surround¬ 
ing clod by the slips, and also from the coal above, rested almost entirely on 
three posts, which were not under its centre. One side must have given way 
first, and the lump having once started to move, the posts were immediately 
uncrowned and knocked out. 

This accident shews the importance of chocks being built close to the face 
under such a bad roof. 

The clod formed a worse roof here than usual, owing to the drift being 
nearly completed, and from its proximity to a large fault, near which slips are 
much more frequent, and also from the nearness of a seam of coal, from which 
the clod was detached. This seam of coal is, as a rule, 10 yds. above the stone, 
and is thinner. 

Northwards it lies from 5'—6' above the stone, and is from 2' to 8" thick. 
Rails are used instead of bars where the floor heaves and reduces the height, as 
they take up less room. 

At the Southern extremity the Red Shagg resembles Fig. 174. 



FIG. 257 


Section AB 
































RED MINE IRONSTONE, 



Flannel Bass 



FIG. 258. 


Fig. 258. Section S. Sometimes worked by longwall outwards, with gob 
roads from the main road pillars, and at other times by longwall backwards, the 
roads having been driven to the boundary in the solid. The latter method is 
preferred. Packs and wastes are formed ; the roof is supported mostly by 
“riflemen ” posts only occasionally set. There are two rows next the face, and 
the packs are kept close up to them. The face or main joints run regularly 13 0 
NE., from 12"—18" apart. There are also cross joints. The roof is very strong. 
















BASSEY MINE IRONSTONE. 


, A ^ 

plcic* ^ 



FIG. 259. 


Fig. 259. Section W. Longwall, with 20 yds. drifts on each side the 
jig. The cogs are 8' wide and 3—4 yds. apart. They are set out by building 
riflemen (topped with wood), and tilling up the intermediate space as the 
builders (6" bass) come to hand. The roof is jointy, but very strong. No 
timber is set in strait roads, but small wooden wedges are driven into the 
joints of the roof whenever it sounds heavy. Although no danger is antici¬ 
pated it makes the roof knock hard, and is considered a safeguard. On 
becoming moist the wedges expand and tighten any loose blocks. Water is 
used to facilitate the holing. It is efficient if thrown on the last thing at 
night, and given time to act. 











WINGHAY COAL. 




As- 


i° 



FIG. 260. 


Fig. 260. Section E. The coal contains nodules of pyrites ; it is best 
and hardest at the top. About i' of coal is left up against the roof, which is 
so bad that it could otherwise not be kept up. Westwards, a seam of coal 
2' o" thick (which lies 5—6 yds. above the Winghay Eastwards) is only 9" 
above the Winghay Coal, and it is posted to. Worked by headings 7 yds. 
apart and drifted back. There Is a good long grain 5° NW. The posts are 
kept in rows 3' from each other; the rows being about 4' apart. Half are 
lost. Slips are frequent in places 10'’ N E. 










* 




GREEN LANE TWO ROW COAL. 



FIG. 261. 


Figs. 261 and 262. Plan and Section E. The coal is short and close- 
grained. Cleat indistinct. Slips in coal pretty frequent. The roof is good 
and strong, but contains smooth slips, from which scales drop off in places. 
Worked by longwall drifts, as shewn. Scaffolds are put up across the 
wastes, to prevent the coal from falling into them and to collect the holing 
dirt for the packs. Holing is done in the fir clay, of which 6"—15" are 
taken up. 



Ill* 


Section AB 






































































































Fig. ’65. Section in Centre. Flakes drop 
off the roof, and it contains a few slips. Lanca¬ 
shire method, with headings 9 yds. apart. Cleat 
indistinct. 

Eastwards the roof becomes less siliceous. 




Fig. 266. Section S. The bass roof has a 
very light specific gravity, and peels off in large 
flakes, but it is good. Lancashire method, with 
headings 8 yds. apart. 







































STONEY EIGHT FEET COAL. 



FIG. 267. 


Fig. 267. Section in Centre. The Bottom Coal is left. Eastwards the 
Bottom Coal becomes thicker (2'), and the flinty sandstone dwindles down to 
5" ; the holing is then done in the Bottom Coal, or in the fireclay when soft 
enough. The coal is sladdered down. The long wall drifts are 15 yds. on 
each side the sladder, and the coal is danned to it. The posts are not 
stamped, owing to the hardness of the floor; they are slightly sharpened, 
and a small incision made with a blunt pick for their reception. The gob is 
nearly filled up. There are numerous Slips in the roof, which run in the 
direction of level, about 6' apart, and tail into the plane of stratification. 
The coal is very hard, and the cleat indistinct. A fatal accident occurred to 
a collier in a drift from a piece of roof 12' long x 2' in width x i' 3" thick 
falling off one of these slips. It was visible, but was not provided against. * 









































STONEY EIGHT FEET COAL. 





c<y 


A s 


jP 


A* 


Fig. 268. Section S. Starting a shoulder. Worked by headings 7—8 yds. 
apart, and drifting back diagonally ; shoulders 5' wide being taken off. The 
clod comes down in the drifts, and holing is done underneath the Bottom 
Coal. A fatal accident occurred from the collier passing in front of the coal 
face, from which he had withdrawn the sprags A large piece of coal 
became detached and fell on to him. Not more than two or three posts are 
set in each of the drifts. 


TEN FEET COAL. 


Fig. 269. Section NE. The roof is 
good, except in places. Worked by 
Lancashire method. The pillars are 
worked off in 5 yds. lengths. Pinnings 
are built to the Top Coal, about half¬ 
way up the drift. The Top Coal is then 
recovered by loosening the pinning, and 
a new length started from below. The 
coal is blown down throughout; 4—5 
shots being necessary to start the length. 
No posts are set in the drifts, only 
stretchers against the pinnings when the 
Top Coal is loose in going up. Cleat 
25^ NE; not distinct. Towards the 
Centre the coal is 6' thick ; inclination 
35 0 ; headings are driven 8 yds. apart, 
and the coal is rated off. Cleat 15° NW ; 
distinct. 

Southwards, the coal is 8' thick ; the 
roof consists of hard and strong bass, but 
contains treacherous slips near faults. 
Fatal accidents have occurred from pieces 
of roof falling out unexpectedly. 



FIG. 269. 














TOP TWO ROW COAL. 



SEVEN FEET BANBURY COAL. 


> t? (A 1 * 

, 4 ' * 








Fig. 270. Section C. Lancashire 
method ; heads 8 yds. apart. The roof 
is very good, but uneven, and the coal 
sticks to it. Where the floor is hard 
holing is done in the top of the coal. 
Posts arc set about 3' apart, and four 
rows are maintained. The seam is very 
dusty, and Cleat 20° NW, not very dis¬ 
tinct. This seam thickens to 6' East¬ 
wards, and is there called Big Row ; the 
Bottom Two Row being named Little 
Row. In place of section the roof was 
slightly worse, from the Bottom Two 
Row having been previously worked. 


FIG. 270. 



c°“ 


FIG. 271. 


Fig. 271. Section of drift C. The 
shale which lies between the Banbury 
Rock and the coal forms a bad roof, 
and necessitates much timbering in the 
roads. Lancashire method ; headings 
8—9 yds. apart. 2' 6" of coal forms the 
roof in the drifts ; there are five rows of 
posts, about 27" from each other; the 
posts in each row being 1—i|yds. apart. 
The roof coal drops, or is got down on 
drawing the back rows of posts, and little 
of it is lost, Long posts are sometimes 
set to the shale roof whilst the coal 
lumps are being loaded. Cleat : io' 
NW, distinct. 

NE. the coal is 3 2" thick, and 3"—6" 
of Rockbinds intervene between the 
sandstone and the coal. Cleat 8o° NW, 
pretty distinct. 

W. the sandstone lies on the coal, and 
is strong, except where thin veins of coal 
breed into it. The coal is from 7' 6"—10' 
thick ; 12" at the top and at the bottom 
are inferior. Worked by wide boards 
and pillars. Chocks are built freely. 


On one occasion, when a long face was being worked without any coal supports 
being left, or much timber set, a fall of roof occurred over nearly six acres. This 
fall resembled an explosion in its physical effects ; doors were blown open and 
wagons smashed to pieces ; clouds of dust ascended the shafts. As it was Sunday 
there was no one underground at the time. The surface, 200 yds. above, at once 
subsided 6'. 










EIGHT FEET BANBURY COAL. 


FIG. 272. 


Figs. 272 and 273. Plan and Section of a tace way drift W. Lancashire 
method. Top Coal left in headings. Cleat distinct in patches. Slips 
frequent. 



Section AB 




















FIG. 275. 


__ Figs. 274 and 275. Plan and Section 
C. Lancashire method. The roof is not 
strong: it contains numerous smooth 
faces in places, and falls in small lumps ; 
this necessitates a system of packing with 
gob debris. 4'—5' shoulders are sliced 
off. No timber whatever is set in the 
drifts. Cleat: pretty distinct in two 
directions in patches. Slips: very fre¬ 
quent, pass into roof. 

NE. the coal retains its thickness ; the 
dip is 55 0 ; pinnings are' built more 
slantwise and only far enough to shoot 
the gob. No timber is set in the drifts, 
and the safest place is not under the roof, 
but under the coal face. Cleat indistinct, 
but slips frequent 15° NW. 

N. the cleat is very distinct 6o° NW. 


FIG. 274- 


Section A B 




























BULLHURST COAL. 



FIG. 276. 


Figs. 276 and 277. Plan and Section C. Lancashire method. 
The Top Coal is left up in the drifts to support the roof, which is 
very tender. It is dropped, and got on drawing the timber. 



Section AB 


FIG. 277. 


















































BULLHURST COAL. 



Fig. 278. Plan C, shewing a method of working by “ walls ” (walling), 
which has lately been adopted, and is considered better and safer than heading 
and drifting. Each wall is 9—10 yards wide, and is driven for a distance of 60 
yards from either side of a jig, beginning at the top. Another pair of walls is 
started below the first as soon as the latter is completed. Packs are formed of 
broken pieces of roof, which breaks above them. The lower pack of the top 
wall forms the upper pack of the bottom wall. The roof breaks down in the 
wastes, anti the pressure over the levels is thereby relieved. The Top Coal 
is cut at the high side of the packs, and most of it is recovered. The advantage 
of this variety of longwall in a level direction is that good air roads are 
maintained, which in the other method close in rapidly, however well-timbered, 
and impede the ventilation. 3—4 rows of posts are set, 1 yd. apart, the posts 
being from 4' 6"—5' apart in each row. If the dip is to be kept open a 10 yards 
pillar is left next to it in each wall. 










































* 









































































CHEADLE AND IPSTONES 
DISTRICT. 


FIGS. 279—284. 







TWO YARD COAL. 


COBBLE COAL. 



24" best 
Coal- 
( dice ) 


12 " (left) 


FIG. 279. 


Fig. 279. Section of narrow head SW. of Cheadle. 
The roof being bad 12" of coal are left up. Coal is also 
left underfoot," to prevent the heaving action of the floor. 
The coal is very open-grained. There are open spaces as 
much as 1" wide between some of the cleat planes. 
Wooden wedges are driven into these spaces. Cleat 
distinct 52° NW, 





Fig. 280. Section W. (near Dilhorn). Worked by longwall 




Section FG 

FIG. 283. 


Figs. 281, 282, 283. Plan and Sections. Worked in 40—50 yds. longwall 
faces. Weights occur every 9—10 yds. Cogs are more or less frequent The 
coal gets best when the face forms an angle with the cleat; if square on end the 
coal is “too fast.” Foreset posts B are set before holing. As the “buttock” 
advances the backrow posts are drawn and set in between the foreset posts. Two 
men were killed by a fall of roof at the face. It was known that the roof 
“ stirred ” by knocking ; but the coal, though holed, was expected to support it, 
and the men were engaged removing a post to reset it at a short distance, without 
previously setting a temporary one. The workings had been standing a fortnight, 
and the roof and coa were broken behind the holing, unknown to the men. 


































HAEMATITE IRONSTONE. 



less) 


Fig. 284. Section C. (near Kingsley). The stone, which is of a deep 
red colour, and contains from 35—40 °/ 0 of iron, varies in thickness 
from 3"—16". The shale forms a pretty good roof; it is highly impreg¬ 
nated with iron. The marl is occasionally absent; the stone resting 
directly on the sandstone. There is sometimes 4 " of marl above the 
stone, which facilitates the holing. Worked by 24 yds. longwall faces; 
the gob is closely packed ; some shale having to be sent out. The rails 
(20" guage) are carried near to the face in the jig or level, and the 
smaller pieces of stone carried to them in boxes. A row of posts is set 
every 2^ 6", the posts l>eing from 3' 6"—5' apart ; as a new row is set 
the packing is carried up to it, and the back row drawn. No sprags are 
set. Water is used to soften the holing. No powder is used ; the stone 
is wedged from underneath. 


Near the surface the roof is extremely loose, and the stone is easily 
worked. Bars and posts are set at the face, 18" apart, and slabs placed 
over the bars in places. The timber is much broken. 

At Ipstones 18" of coal underlie the stone, and the latter varies 
from 6"—27". 
























TIMBERING 

IN TRAVELLING ROADS. 

FIGS. 285—296. 

























































FIG. 285. 


Un/V 1 


































































































































































V 



HG. 286c 



































































Lagging 



FIG. 287R. 



FIG. 287c. 








































Fir;. 288. 


Elevation 
FIG. 289a. 



FIG. 289B. 


Elevation 


Elevation 






























































FIG. 291. 



FIG. 292B. 


































! )ip in a Plumb Rearer 
Seam. 


\ 




FIG. 293. 



FIG. 295. 

















FIG., 296. 
























































MISCELLANEOUS. 


FIGS. 297—302. 
























































FIG. 297. 



FIG. 298. 



















TOOLS AND APPLIANCES FOR SHAPING AND 
DRAWING TIMBER. 



Jobber 



Crowbar 


q Hammer 




Wooden Mallet 
(hooped with iron) 


ff 

0 



Dog fir* Chain 


r 





Axe 



Rope 7 yds. long (has a hook as in a lashing chain) 


FIG. 301. 














































































































































FIG. 302. 









TABLE SHEWING THE DEPTHS OF THE 
WORKINGS FROM THE SURFACE. 


3 & 4 . 

5 & 6 . 

7 & 8 . 

9 & io . 

II & 12 . 

13 & 14 . 

15 & 16 . 

17. 

18, 19 & 20 . 

21 . 

22, 23 & 24 . 

25 & 26 . 

27 . 

28 & 29 . 

30, 31 & 3IA. 

32 & 33 . 

34 . 

34A . 

35 & 36 . 

37 & 3 8 . 

39 & 4° . 

41 & 42 . 

43, 44 & 45 . 

46 . 

47 & 48 . 

49 & 5° . 

Si & 52 . 

53 . 

54 . 

55 & 56 . 

57 & 5 8 . 

59 . 

60 .. 

61 .. 

62 . 

63 . 

64 & 65 .. 

66 & 67 . 

68 & 69 . 

7°... 

7i» 72, 73> 73 A & 73B 

74 . 

74 A . 

75 & 7 6 . 


Depth 
in yds. 

Figs. 

138 

77 . 

160 

78 . 

15 ° 

79 & 80 . . 

! 5 ° 

81 . 

I40 

82 . 

no 

83 . 

170 

84 . 

15° 

85 . 

280 

86 . 

130 

87 . 

180 

88 & 89 . 

32° 

90 & 91 . 

180 

92 . 

200 

92A . 

200 

93 . 94 & 95 . 

l8o 

96 & 97 . 

33 ° 

98 . 

15 ° 

99 . 

280 

100 . 

250 

IOOA . 

180 

IOI . 

180 

IOIA . 

180 

102 & I03 .. 

180 

I04. 

280 

105A & I05B . 

280 

106 & I07 . 

460 

108 ... . 

180 

109 & no . 

200 

in & 112 . 

400 

1 *3 11 7 . 

30° 

118 & 119 . 

30° 

120 & 121 . 

200 

122 .. 

460 

200 

200 

200 

123 & 124 . 

125 & 126 . 

127 . 

128, 129 & 129A. 

460 

130 & 131 . 

460 

132. 

200 

133 & 134. 

200 

135. 

3 i 5 

i 3 6 & I 37 . 

35 ° 

138 & 139 . 

100 1 

140 & 141 . 

3 °° 

142 & 143 . 


Depth 
in yds. 
120 
3 °° 

5°° 

500 

35° 

35° 

480 

460 

400 

100 

300 

480 

160 

3 IQ 

280 

45° 

280 

340 

180 

37 o 

150 

39 ° 

220 

200 

160 

280 

240 

180 

220 

440 

380 

380 

480 

53° 

39° 

400 

565 

440 

55° 

600 

3°° 

74° 

58° 

695 

250 
































































































DEPTHS OF THE WORKINGS FROM THE SURFACE. 


Figs. 

144 & 145 

i45 A . 

146 & 147 
148 & 149 
150 & isi 
i5 2 & x 53 
i54 & 155 
156 & 157 
158 & 159 
160 & 161 

162 . 

163 & 164 

165 . 

166 . 

167 & 168 

169 . 

. 

171 . 

172 & 173 

174 . 

175 & 176 

1 77 . 

178 . 

179 . 

180 . 

181 & 182 

*83 . 

184 . 

185 . 

186 . 

187 . 

188 & 189 

190 ... _ 

191 & 192 

x 93 . 

194 . 

195 & 196 

197 . 

198 . 

x 99. 

200 & 201 

202 . 

203 . 

204 & 205 
206 & 207 
208 & 209 
210 & 211 


Depth 
in yds. 

75 ° 

664 

280 

35 ° 

43 ° 

350 

35 ° 

200 

35 ° 

43 ° 

230 

47 ° 

400 

260 

400 

3 °° 

250 

340 

275 

120 

120 

120 

5 ° 
280 
110 
no 
280 
no 

3 °° 

112 

320 

x 5 ° 

35 ° 

20 
160 
110 
60 
10 

25 

60 

3 ° 

180 

180 

600 

360 

320 


Figs. 

212 . 

213 & 214 . 

215 & 2l6 . 

217 & 2l8 . 

219 & 220 . 

221 . 

222 & 223 . 

224 . 

225 & 226 .. 

227 & 228 . 

229 & 23O . 

23 I & 232 . .. 

233 & 2 34 . 

235 . 

236, 237 & 238 . 

239 & 240. 

24I & 242 . 

243 . 

244 & 245 . 

246, 247, 247A & 247B 

248 .. 

249 . 

25° .. 

251 & 252 . 

253 & 254 . 

255 . 

256 & 257 . 

258 . 

259 . 

260 .. 

261 & 262 . 

263 & 264 . 

265 .. 

266 . 

267 . 

268 . 

269 . 

270 . 

271 . 

272, 273 & 273A . 

274 & 275 . 

276, 277 & 278 . 

279 . 

280 . 

28l, 282 & 283 . 

284 . 


Depth 
in yds. 

24O 

x 5 ° 

220 

480 

35 ° 

310 

500 

320 

520 

130 

130 

540 

620 

200 

250 

650 

200 

3 °° 

620 

200 

300 

24O 

400 


370 

280 

200 

220 

240 

70 

IOO 

l6o 

l6o 

230 

200 

200 

200 

265 

23O 

35 ° 

35 ° 

160 

280 


3 ° 
90 
196 








































































































9 v Vi 

































































































